In a message dated 2/14/01 5:57:07 PM Eastern Standard Time, palmer@SFU.CA
writes:
<<
You have a short memory. Astronomers did not say the universe was
open. Observation says there is not enough visible matter to close
it. If we interpret "visible" to mean "detectable" then more matter
is being discovered all the time. I do not accept your contention
that flatness has been conclusively demonstrated.
>>
Leigh while we can't yet say Omega equals one the fact that it is virtually
one, (Well within .2 to 2 by best astronomical data) begs for an explanation.
To be so close to 1 implies incredible fine tuning during the big bang or, as
I believe is more likely, some mechanism which drives omega to 1. The only
mechanism that we know of that may be the agent for this result in inflation.