The Big Bang

I'm typing this, therefore the world has not ended as some were hysterically proclaiming would happen once the Large Hadron Collider was fired. I received the picture below via email:



I don't understand the science involved but I understand the sense of wonder. This collider is looking for signs of the Big Bang. What caused matter to be bottled up? What caused the seconds delay when the Big Bang started? If those seconds hadn't occurred would any of us be here today? What would the universe look like?

Other questions: Why do sub-atomic particles behave so differently from what is understood? What wonders will quantum physics and mechanics bring us? Is it possible that at some point in time we will be able to travel worm holes?

Questions, questions: The pursuit of the answers is the fun.

Update: Live webcast