The term "exploded" seems to suggest that you are referring to the Big Bang theory, which is the prevailing scientific explanation for the origin of the universe. According to this theory, the universe began as an extremely hot and dense point, often referred to as a singularity, approximately 13.8 billion years ago. However, it's important to note that the Big Bang was not an explosion in the traditional sense. It was the rapid expansion and subsequent cooling of space itself.
When it comes to understanding what the universe was like before the Big Bang, current scientific knowledge is limited. The nature of the universe prior to the Big Bang remains an open question, and our current theories and observations are unable to provide a definitive answer. The singularity at the heart of the Big Bang represents a point at which our understanding of physics breaks down, and our current scientific models cannot accurately describe the conditions during that time.
However, scientists have made significant progress in studying the early universe by employing various approaches, such as the study of cosmic microwave background radiation, high-energy particle physics, and mathematical models based on the laws of physics. These methods allow researchers to make predictions and develop theories about the early stages of the universe, but they are still speculative and subject to ongoing investigation and refinement.
Ultimately, our understanding of what transpired before the Big Bang is limited by the available evidence and the current boundaries of scientific knowledge. It remains an active area of research, and scientists continue to explore new avenues, including theories such as inflation, quantum cosmology, and string theory, to gain deeper insights into the origins of the universe.