how inflation neatly solves the problem of cosmic uniformity. Any initial irregularities would be “stretched to death,” in the same way that an inflating balloon loses its crinkles. In effect, inflation obliterates all records of previous complexity and generates a naturally smooth universe. And there is a bonus. Just as inflating a balloon reduces the curvature of its surface, so inflating space makes it less and less curved. Inflate it enough (and a factor of 1025 is enough) and it will be indistinguishable from flat. So inflation explains both the uniformity and the flat geometry of the
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