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8 shocking things we learned from Stephen Hawking's book
The book covers major questions about the nature and origin of the universe.
Thu, Nov 04 2010 at 11:03 AM
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Photo: Robert Gendler/NASA
From the idea that our universe is one among many, to the revelation that mathematician Pythagoras didn't actually invent the Pythagorean theorem, here are eight shocking things we learned from reading physicist Stephen Hawking's new book, "The Grand Design," written with fellow physicist Leonard Mlodinow of Caltech.
The book, covering major questions about the nature and origin of the universe, was released Sept. 7 by its publisher, Bantam.
1. The past is possibility
According to Hawking and Mlodinow, one consequence of the theory of quantum mechanics is that events in the past that were not directly observed did not happen in a definite way. Instead they happened in all possible ways. This is related to the probabilistic nature of matter and energy revealed by quantum mechanics: Unless forced to choose a particular state by direct interference from an outside observation, things will hover in a state of uncertainty.
According to Hawking and Mlodinow, one consequence of the theory of quantum mechanics is that events in the past that were not directly observed did not happen in a definite way. Instead they happened in all possible ways. This is related to the probabilistic nature of matter and energy revealed by quantum mechanics: Unless forced to choose a particular state by direct interference from an outside observation, things will hover in a state of uncertainty.
For example, if all we know is that a particle traveled from point A to point B, then it is not true that the particle took a definite path and we just don't know what it is. Rather, that particle simultaneously took every possible path connecting the two points.
Yeah, we're still trying to wrap our brains around this.
The authors sum up: "No matter how thorough our observation of the present, the (unobserved) past, like the future, is indefinite and exists only as a spectrum of possibilities."
2. The power of light
This fun fact: A 1-watt night-light emits a billion billion photons each second.
Photons are the little packets that light comes in. Confusingly, they, like all particles, behave as both a particle and a wave.
3. Theory of everything
If there is any "theory of everything" that can describe the whole universe, it is M theory, according to Hawking and Mlodinow. This model is a version of string theory, which posits that at the tiniest levels all particles are fundamentally little loops of string that vibrate at different frequencies. And, if true, all matter and energy would follow rules derived from the nature of these strings.
"M theory is the only model that has all the properties we think the final theory ought to have," the authors write.
One consequence of this theory is that our universe is not the only one – untold numbers of cousin universes exist with different physical laws and properties.
4. General relativity
If most people think of general relativity at all, they assume this high-minded idea of Einstein's applies only to super-large objects completely outside the realm of normal life, such as galaxies and black holes.
But actually, the warping of space-time does affect things we know and use, the authors point out.
"If general relativity were not taken into account in GPS satellite navigation systems, errors in global positions would accumulate at a rate of about ten kilometers each day," the book states. That's because general relativity describes how time flows slower the closer an object is to a large mass. Thus, depending on satellites' distances from Earth, their onboard clocks will run at slightly different speeds, which could offset position calculations unless this effect is taken into account."
5. Oppressed fish
A few years ago, the city council of Monza, Italy, barred pet owners from keeping goldfish in curved bowls. This law was meant to protect the poor fish from a distorted nature of reality, since bent light might show them an odd portrayal of their surroundings.
Hawking and Mlodinow bring up the incident to make the point that it is impossible to know the true nature of reality. We think we have an accurate picture of what's going on, but how would we know if we were metaphorically living in a giant fishbowl of our own, since we would never be able to see outside our own point of view to compare?
6. Pythagoras stole the credit
In passing, the authors casually assert that the famous Greek mathematician Pythagoras did not actually discover the Pythagorean theorem.
A little digging suggests the formula (a2 + b2 = c2, which describes the relationship between the three sides of a right triangle) was actually known earlier. The Babylonians, for example, seem to have documented the basic idea in ancient mathematical tablets before Pythagoras came on the scene in 570 B.C.
7. Quarks are never lonely
Quarks, the adorably named building blocks of protons and neutrons, come only in groups, never alone. Apparently, the force that binds quarks together increases with distance, so the farther one tries to pry a lone quark away, the harder it will pull back. Therefore, free quarks never exist in nature.
Protons and neutrons are both made of three quarks. (Protons contain two "up"-flavored quarks and one "down," while neutrons have two downs and one up.)
8. The universe is its own creator
One of the most talked-about assertions in the whole book is that we don't need the idea of God to explain what sparked the creation of the universe.
"It is not necessary to invoke God to light the blue touch paper and set the universe going," Hawking and Mlodinow write.
Instead, the laws of science alone can explain why the universe began. Our modern understanding of time suggests that it is just another dimension, like space. Thus it doesn't have a beginning.
"Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing," they write. "Spontaneous creation is the reason there is something rather than nothing, why the universe exists, why we exist."
This article was reprinted with permission from LiveScience.
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Faith... It is what it is. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God,so the things that are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Everyone needs to take a minute to calm down and listen to Stephen. He is right. I hate to be the one to break it to you Christians, but unfortunately no higher power exists and you aren't going to heaven or hell. You'll probably just die and your energy will be recycled. Pretty simple.
Peace.
Stephen is right on the money. I bet my present existence on what he has to say is true logic. We are all re-cycled in one form or another. Religions are based on ignorant dogma, mind-controlling, scare-mongering, over-inflated egotistical, money-laundering, megalomaniacs; and you poor saps are the ones walking around, hook, line and sinker. It does not take an Einstein to figure it out. It is indeed, pretty simple logic, you are all too busy with out-dated notions stuck in your heads.
You are so right. Lennon's song "Imagine" says it beautifully.
Yea well ..listen to the song! Imagine assumes that all else IS real.
all u religious ignorant beings need to wake up. stop trying to argue your naive irrational views. grow up and embrace reality. there is no "one" god or "supreme" being over all. we are all our own masters, we decide our own destiny. open your eyes.
*you
My favorite part was how they explained the creation of the universe. Spontaneous creation. hmm has anything just spontaneously appeared? Never. This was also priceless "because there is a law such as gravity the universe can and will create itself." Actually, no there isn't anything that creates itself because there is a law such as conservation of matter.
Since you say that nothing has ever appeared from nothing (a loose theory of causation, let's say), where do you think God stands on the subject?
I'm guessing that God never really needed to spontaneously appear - he has existed forever, right? He must fall outside the law of conservation of matter that you just described.
My point is that you're touting the importance of observable physical laws but then disregard their importance in order to appeal to an authority that doesn't obey them.
My favorite part was how they explained the creation of the universe. Spontaneous creation. hmm has anything just spontaneously appeared? Never. This was also priceless "because there is a law such as gravity the universe can and will create itself." Actually, no there isn't anything that creates itself because there is a law such as conservation of matter.
Is matter conserved or is matter\energy conserved?
The "Oppressed Fish" idea is nothing new. Anybody heard of Plato's allegory of the cave? Come on.
Hawking and Einstein are both wrong. Proof: Imagin traveling through
space sitting on the bow of the Enterprise traveling at the speed of
light. Enter the dark side of the moon. An object appears, dimly
lit, off in the front of the Enerprise. Pull out your flash light and aim
it at the object. Guess what. light is now traveling at the speed of
light twice over. Hawking is right about the fishbowel concept that
we only call reality what we "see." Keep on Keeping fellas
First of all, traveling at the speed of light probably isn't even possible, since it would take infinitely more energy than we know how to harness at once.
Second, traveling at the speed of light and shining a flashlight(?) ahead of you would do absolutely nothing. The light would never reach anything in front of you. If you are traveling at the same speed that light is traveling, everything in front of your flashlight is just going to be dark.
Mary,
You are right. Even if we could travel that fast the space between stars contains dust particles and gas molecules any of which if we hit at the speed of light would destroy us. Also as you approach the speed of light length decreases, mass increases and time slows. At the speed of light you would have infinite mass and time would stop. And you are right about your second point. Einstein did "thought experiments" concerning just such ideas.
I'm sure any atheist on here can give multiple reasons why religious people freak out. It's so funny.
I admire those who are proper and to the point. When you feel inspired it is God.
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