In the early years of this century, it was established through the observations of Edwin Hubble that the universe was both expanding and decelerating, which gave rise to the idea of the Big Bang, as the only physical condition known to result in expanding and decelerating matter is an explosion. This discovery had a profound impact on the theories of the universe and of time as both being infinite, as it had seemed to earlier observers, who found more and more stars as they discovered improved telescopic technology. With the Big Bang theory, there had to be a beginning, a spark which initiated the expansion of the universe. This also raised the issue that if there was a Big Bang, there had to be something that initiated it. Einstein is quoted as saying that this need for a beginning point implies, "the presence of a superior reasoning power."