The Origins of the Big Bang Theory
Georges Lemaître and Modern Cosmology
His Life and Final Resting Place in Charleroi
-- GEORGES LEMAÎTRE, BELGIAN CATHOLIC PRIEST AND RENOWNED ASTROPHYSICIST --
Georges Lemaître
is universally recognized for his revolutionary proposal of the Big Bang theory. Born on July 17, 1894, in Charleroi, Lemaître profoundly influenced the history of modern cosmology by proposing the idea of the primeval atom, a hypothesis that would later become
the Big Bang theory.
This theory suggests that the universe began with a massive explosion from a point of infinitely dense energy, followed by continuous expansion, an idea that transformed our understanding of the universe's origin.
-- GEORGES LEMAÎTRE'S IMPACT ON SCIENCE --
In 1927, Georges Lemaître published a groundbreaking article in which he proposed that
the universe is expanding,
an idea based on Albert Einstein's general relativity. This hypothesis would be confirmed by Edwin Hubble's observations a few years later. Lemaître went even further in 1931 by suggesting that this expansion started from a "primeval atom," thus laying the groundwork for what we now know as the Big Bang theory. This fundamental concept was initially met with skepticism but is now widely accepted and forms a central pillar of modern cosmology.
In addition to his contribution to the Big Bang theory, Lemaître also worked on cosmic rays and was a pioneer in the study of distant galaxies, thereby contributing to the evidence of the universe's expansion. His work left an indelible mark on science, and he is often regarded as one of the founding fathers of modern cosmology.
-- LEMAÎTRE'S VISION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SCIENCE AND FAITH --
Lemaître firmly believed that science and religion addressed different but equally important questions. Science, according to him, explores the "how" of the universe—the mechanisms and natural laws that govern the cosmos—while religion seeks to understand the "why," offering meaning and purpose to human existence and the universe.
Additionally, in 2024, Pope Francis paid tribute to the Belgian Georges Lemaître during a speech to the participants of the 2nd Vatican Observatory Congress: A priest and exemplary scientist
-- GEORGES LEMAÎTRE'S ROOTS IN CHARLEROI --
Georges Lemaître was born and raised in Charleroi, a city in southern Belgium known for its industrial past. It is here, in Charleroi, that he received the foundational education that would lead him to become one of the most influential minds in modern science. Although Charleroi is not traditionally associated with science, it played a crucial role in shaping this great cosmologist.
-- GEORGES LEMAÎTRE'S FINAL RESTING PLACE: MARCINELLE CEMETERY --
Georges Lemaître is buried at the Marcinelle Cemetery in Charleroi, his hometown. Lemaître's grave is located within this cemetery, where he rests alongside family members, as evidenced by the tombstone visible on-site. This final resting place in Charleroi underscores Lemaître's deep ties to his hometown, despite his international career and global influence.
-- IN HONOR OF GEORGES LEMAÎTRE --
In 2017,
a statue of Georges Lemaître (1894-1966)
in Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve, created by artist Gigi Warny, was integrated into a curved wall.
In 2015,
a stainless steel sculpture
created by Jean-François Diord and financed by UCL, was inaugurated near the entrance of the annex of the Palace of Justice. This work, which can be perceived as an atom or a sphere, symbolizes Lemaître's innovative idea of linking the world of the infinitely large with the world of the infinitely small.
In 2014, ATV-005
Georges Lemaître is the name given to the fifth and final mission of the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), a cargo spacecraft developed by the European Space Agency (ESA).
In 2002,
the arrow of the Science Islet roundabout
created by Sandrine Devos was inaugurated and pays tribute to Georges Lemaître, Julien Dulay, Emile Gobbe, and Emile Fourcault. The arrow of the roundabout turns slowly in the Copernican direction, representing the world in eternal evolution.