The following passage has been extracted from the book "Parallel Worlds": Since matter and antimatter are opposites (with antimatter having exactly
the opposite charge from matter), we might assume that the
big bang must have created equal amount of matter and antimatter.
The problem, however, is that matter and antimatter will annihilate
each other on contact into a burst of gamma rays. Thus, we should
not exist. The universe should be a random collection of gamma rays
instead of teeming with ordinary matter. If the big bang were perfectly
the opposite charge from matter), we might assume that the
big bang must have created equal amount of matter and antimatter.
The problem, however, is that matter and antimatter will annihilate
each other on contact into a burst of gamma rays. Thus, we should
not exist. The universe should be a random collection of gamma rays
instead of teeming with ordinary matter. If the big bang were perfectly