Some comments may be worthwhile at this point.  The Big Bang is dependent on a theory known as "inflation".  Inflation postulates that, at one time, the universe itself expanded at a rate in excess of that allowed by Einstein's relativity.  We know that matter and energy are constrained by relativity to the speed of light in a vacuum.  But for space itself, it may be another matter.  Inflation had recently come under attack by a number of scientists including one of its founders.  There is a nasty battle going with Steven Hawking on one side and the anti-inflation guys on the other.  Without inflation, no Big Bang.  Will we ever know? Not likely.  Did the cat swallow the canary 10 years ago?  Cats today are too slow.  But what did happen 10 years ago?  There is really no way of knowing.