Description

A Ted Talk by scientist David Christian. Christian narrates the scientific history of the universe, from the Big Bang to the Internet. This is “Big History”: a wide-angle look at complexity, life and humanity, set against our slim share of the cosmic timeline. Concepts such as “Goldilocks conditions” are explained and illuminated with visual and a compelling speaker. An interesting video to pair with learning about “creation myths” from other cultures and times.

Discussion Questions

• What is the meaning of a “theory” and how can we apply this to scientific theory?
• What is a “Goldilocks condition”?
• Can a person believe in scientific theory and also be religious?
• The “Big Bang Theory” explains the birth of our universe. Is there a theory that explains what happened before that?

Keywords: big bang, nature, big history, complexity, creation, entropy, history, internet, origin of life, science