The steady-state cosmological theory posits a universe that is constant and unchanging over time, with continuous creation of matter to maintain a uniform density; Fred Hoyle is a major proponent of this theory.
The steady-state cosmological theory, proposed primarily by astrophysicists Hermann Bondi, Thomas Gold, and Fred Hoyle in the 1940s, presented an alternative to the widely accepted Big Bang theory. The essence of the steady-state theory lies in the idea of a universe that maintains a constant density throughout its existence. According to this model, as the universe expands, new matter is continuously created to fill the void left by the expansion, ensuring a steady state of matter distribution. This creation of matter was termed the "continuous creation" hypothesis.
The steady-state theory was an attempt to explain the observed large-scale uniformity in the distribution of galaxies without the need for a singular cosmic event like the Big Bang. It suggested that the universe has no specific origin and that its overall properties remain unchanged over time.
Fred Hoyle, a British astrophysicist, played a significant role in developing and promoting the steady-state theory. His work, along with Bondi and Gold, contributed to the articulation of this alternative cosmological model. Despite its initial popularity, the steady-state theory eventually lost support in favor of the overwhelming evidence supporting the Big Bang model, such as the cosmic microwave background radiation and the abundance of light elements.