the expansion of the universe was one of the most important intellectual discoveries of the 20th century or of any century it transformed the debate about whether the universe had a beginning if galaxies are moving apart now they must have been closer together in the past if their speed had been constant they would have all been on top of one another about 15 billion years ago was this the beginning of the universe in the beginning there was just a ball no bigger than an atom floating all alone in a dark room with no borders and all the stars that glow and seas and people you know we were together a time when things were better this was history s most peaceful time for us we were always tight without a fight we floating through the night time before order and you and me and all the stars and seas and trees we were together a time when things were better all we know is 15 billion years ago the peace was suddenly shattered a chain reaction blew us all apart like it never mattered and you and me and all the things we know and see got torn from each other the big bang was our mother everything we see was once a little part of everything we touch was just as much a part of those we love and hate can t separate them from the waves out on the sea it s all a distant part of we