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The occurrence of singularities in cosmology

1966/10/18 by S. W. Hawking, Stephen William Hawking · 271 citations
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Mathematics · Physics and Astronomy · #Classical mechanics #Cosmology #Cosmology and Gravitation Theories #Einstein #Einstein equations #General relativity #Geophysics and Gravity Measurements #Gravitational singularity #Mathematical analysis #Mathematical physics #Mathematics #Observable #Physics #Quantum mechanics #Relativity and Gravitational Theory #Singularity #Theoretical physics #Universe

paper · doi:10.1098/rspa.1966.0221

published in Proceedings of the Royal Society of London A Mathematical and Physical Sciences 294(1439), 511-521 (Royal Society)

openalex publication_date 1966/10/18 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/02

Abstract

Abstract It is shown that singularities of space-time are inevitable if the Einstein equations hold, if matter has normal properties and if the universe satisfies certain reasonable global conditions. The singularities would be in the past and would, in principle, be observable. Observation to determine whether such singularities actually occurred would provide a powerful test of the Einstein equations in strong fields. The singularity would not necessarily constitute a beginning of the universe.

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