The "how" is an open question, although the current theory is that the present incarnation of the universe was started at the "big bang". We have no idea if there was anything "before" the big bang, or even if the idea of "before" makes any sense.
The "when" is, about 14.5 billion years ago. Again, the details are a little sketchy; we weren't around to observe the event.
Answered by
ruchirawat18
, an ibibo Citizen,
at
3:38 PM on November 07, 2009