Inflationary Universe

The inflationary universe theory suggests that, shortly after the Big Bang, the universe experienced an extremely rapid expansion, growing exponentially in a very brief period. This “inflation” smoothed out any irregularities, explaining the universe's large-scale uniformity. Imagine blowing up a tiny balloon very quickly; it stretches out uniformly, making the surface smooth. Similarly, inflation stretched space itself, setting the stage for the universe we observe today. This idea helps solve questions about the universe's uniformity and distant structure, providing a key insight into the universe’s early moments and evolution.