TO: Dr. John C. Mather, Senior Astrophysicist, Observational Cosmology Laboratory, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland
FM: Bruce E. Camber
RE: Your articles in ArXiv: NASA’s Next Generation Space Telescope, 1998
Critique of the AURA Report “From Cosmic Birth to Living Earths”, 2015
Homepage(s): Nobel lecture 2006, Senior Project Scientist – JWST, Hertz fellow, 1970
Video: Cosmic Instability: How a Smooth Early Universe Grew into Everyone You Know, 2021; Review and Update on JWST , March 2023

Key quotes by John C. Mather:

“The COBE observed the universe on the largest scales possible, by mapping the cosmic microwave and infrared background radiation fields and determining their spectra. It produced conclusive evidence that the hot Big Bang theory of the early universe is correct, showed that the early universe was very uniform but not perfectly so, and that the total luminosity of post-Big Bang objects is twice as great as previously believed.” – Nobel Lecture, December 8, 2006

“In the beginning was the Big Bang, so we now say with great certainty.” – John Mather

Quick Note: 19 February 2024

Some didn’t like the lack of formatting in that article on Feb 7 (I sent the link on Feb 9). Very similar, but with a positive attitude and a more classic format: https://81018.com/reformat/. Thanks. –BEC

Third email: Friday, 9 February 2024  (Updated)

Dear Dr. John C. Mather:

That the COBE project began in 1974 seems like ancient history in light of the results from the JWST today. When COBE finally launched in 1989, the results raised important questions about our model of the universe.

In 2016, one of his last big productions, (Genius, PBS-TV), Stephen Hawking reiterated his orthodoxy of big bang cosmology, but today I think he’d be leading the BSM movement.

Here is my quick take on the matter: https://81018.com/bbc/ There is a reference to COBE within that homepage and reminded me of your truly remarkable career. Thank you for all you do to keep us on our feet.

Most sincerely,

Bruce

PS. If you don’t recognize my email, I keep my copy here: https://81018.com/mather/ Thanks again. -BEC

Second email: 6 November 2022 at 3:21 PM

Dear Dr. John C. Mather:

I hope you were able to see my earlier email (Sun, Oct 9, 5:30 PM). If you missed it or it’s buried or deleted, I keep my own record right on our page about you and your work: https://81018.com/mather/

Within the new homepage, I say this about the JWST and you:

“[5] James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). There’ll be many senior scholars who will hold onto big bang cosmology until they die. A 1949 statement by Max Planck proclaims that truth. They’ll have the company of great scholars like Dr. John Mather, Nobel Laureate (2006) and James Webb Space Telescope Senior Project Scientist. As the smoothness of the early universe gets deeper and deeper (older and older), the big bang will slowly lose its grip on the mythopoetics around the start of the universe. We would project that the nine potential alternatives, once within the outline of the 202 notations, will define a powerfully entangled grid.” 

I know you have more work than ten people could handle right now. I expect it will be that way for the next few years so I do not expect a response.

Thank you.

Warmly,

Bruce

First email: 9 October 2022 at 5:30 PM

Dear Prof. Dr. John C. Mather:

Is the smoothness of the JWST’s earliest universe a cause for concern? It seems some are concerned that it cannot be supported by big bang cosmology.

Also, is the Guth-defined inflation cause for concern? Most of the old guard like ‘t Hooft, wave off the one-time exception that inflation was an expansion of space itself so an extralogic may apply such that “…dark energy made the universe smooth out and accelerate, but it didn’t stick around for long.” You may recognize that as a Sean Carroll quote.

Thank you.

Warm regards,

Bruce

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