Sir Fred Hoyle was a British astronomer, notable for a number of his theories that run counter to current astronomical opinion. |
Sir Fred Hoyle (1915-2001) was a British astronomer, notable for a number of his theories that run counter to current astronomical opinion. |
While having no argument with the discovery of the expansion of the universe by [Edwin Hubble]?, he disagreed on its interpretation; he argued for the universe being in a `steady state', with the continuous creation of new matter driving the expansion of the universe, rather than the universe beginning and expanding explosively in a `big bang' Ironically, he is responsible for actually coining the term `big bang' in one of his papers criticising the theory. |
While having no argument with the discovery of the expansion of the universe by [Edwin Hubble]?, he disagreed on its interpretation; he argued for the universe being in a "steady state", with the continuous creation of new matter driving the expansion of the universe, rather than the universe beginning and expanding explosively in a "big bang". Ironically, he is responsible for actually coining the term `big bang' in one of his papers criticising the theory. |
He did a series of radio talks on astronomy for the BBC in the 1950s; these were collected in the book "Tha Nature of the Universe", and he went on to do a number of other popular science books. He wrote some science fiction; most interesting is The Black Cloud in which it transpires that most intelligent life in the universe takes the form of interstellar gas clouds, who are surprised that intelligent life can form on planets, and a television series "A for Andromeda". In 1957 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, and he was knighted in 1972. |
He did a series of radio talks on astronomy for the BBC in the 1950s; these were collected in the book "Tha Nature of the Universe", and he went on to do a number of other popular science books. He wrote some science fiction, most interesting is The Black Cloud in which it transpires that most intelligent life in the universe takes the form of interstellar gas clouds, who are surprised that intelligent life can form on planets, and a television series "A for Andromeda". In 1957 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, and he knighted in 1972 In his later years, with [Chandra Wickramasinghe]?, he promoted the theory that life evolved in space, spreading through the universe via panspermia, and that evolution on earth is driven by a steady influx of viruses arriving via comets. |
In his later years, with [Chandra Wickramasinghe]?, he promoted the theory that life evolved in space, spreading through the universe via panspermia, and that evolution on earth is driven by a steady influx of viruses arriving via comets. |
He died on the 22nd August 2001 |
He died on August 20, 2001. |