Science

The Universe Isn’t Tidy.

The Universe Isn’t Tidy

or

Why God Couldn’t Have Created This Universe

or

You Want Some Heavy Thinking With Less Wordage

or

How Many Titles Is He Going To Come Up With?

Consider the first title, “The Universe Isn’t Tidy,” more than the second, “Why God Couldn’t Have Created This Universe,” primarily because the latter presupposes the existence of phenomena that defy gravity or entropy.

Indeed, our reality operates under scientific laws derived from observation, where altering specific conditions yields different outcomes. However, the necessity for 26 constants raises the question: is there an undetected element required to make these laws function? This invites profound contemplation.

One might invoke Occam’s Razor, suggesting our numerical system is flawed, but then the question arises: to which numerical system do these constants truly belong? Given their extensive figures before and after the decimal point, and considering that calculations typically do not extend beyond a few decimal places—since an infinite number compared to a finite one doesn’t significantly alter the outcome unless dealing with minuscule quantities—any lengthy decimal number essentially approximates the nearest whole number.

This reflection should offer some insight into my perspective on the complexity of our reality. With the hypothetical existence of alternate realities but no concrete evidence, one wonders how they differ from ours and whether these differences make them better or worse. Would all realities harbor life, or are we unique? The rationale for diverse realities implies significant differences, otherwise, what purpose would their slight variations serve? This forms the basis for what is often termed ‘heavy thinking.’

It may initially seem that scientific laws are distinct; however, many are interconnected, requiring mass and contributions from other scientific principles. Without a superior alternative, the absence of one law would negatively impact the others. The discovery of a new, unknown factor in any reality would likely influence the existing framework. Yet, if the 26 known physical constants were interchangeable, they would be identical, which they are not. Many are exceedingly small, and should additional scientific laws exist, their functions remain speculative. Thus, concepts like faster-than-light travel or time travel seem implausible, except perhaps for the Conservation of Matter/Energy, which might necessitate the displacement of equivalent mass to the point of origin for a duration. Our reality’s reliance on seemingly irrational principles underscores its untidiness. A ‘perfect’ reality would not require constants, and the placement of any additional constant remains a topic of debate. Their role, albeit consistent, is essentially to serve as ‘fudge factors’ to ensure the functionality of formulas, presenting one of the universe’s enduring mysteries.

Let’s Go Really Tiny

Considering the fact that our reality is imperfect, it stands to reason that any variations of it would likely share this imperfection.

Delving into the quantum realm, which operates under its distinct scientific principles, we encounter numerous particles within an atom that seemingly serve no purpose. If we regard these as mere debris, then it becomes evident there’s a significant amount of waste with no mechanism in place for cleanup. The origin and persistence of these particles remain enigmatic, possibly anchored by the electromagnetic interactions between electrons and the nucleus composed of protons and neutrons. In the realm of quantum mechanics, the transition of these particles between physical and wave states continues to perplex us. After all, our existence is always in a physical state, preventing us from passing through walls or defying gravity at will. This minute force, gravity, maintains the status quo, indifferent to the fragility of the objects it influences. Such observations suggest that all realities, regardless of their scale, are inherently chaotic and disordered.

The First Big Bang

Certainly, the original Big Bang presents the most staggering enigma, where matter accumulated to a degree sufficient to trigger an explosion. This event stands as a profound mystery. It seems implausible for such a concentration of dark matter to cause an explosion. While I do not discount a singular origin, this does not preclude the possibility of a series of explosions powerful enough to forge entire galaxies. The amount of matter involved, regardless of its initial compression, is immense.

Furthermore, the presumption that the universe’s nascent matter was singularity material is speculative, especially given the presence of dark matter and dark energy. It’s possible we’re overestimating its significance, considering it might merely be a byproduct of the original Big Bang.

As fascinating as it is to contemplate the universe and our reality stemming from a singular point, the estimated mass at its inception is 2.0 × 10^49 tons. Assuming the Conservation of Energy/Matter applies from the beginning, this represents an extraordinary amount of matter to coalesce before its cataclysmic dispersion into numerous galaxies. Given that galaxies vary in age, it seems plausible that multiple explosions occurred over time, rather than simultaneously. This theory does not necessarily contradict the overall concept of origin but may indicate that the primordial universe was not entirely void, offering some explanation for the limits of expansion without suggesting a potential collapse. The imagery of matter being expelled in one direction, akin to toothpaste from a tube or spray from an aerosol—though the universe is neither—depicts expansion in all directions with seemingly nothing remaining.

The behavior of singularities, ejecting matter indiscriminately, hints at more complex processes. The concept of matter transferring from another reality faces the dilemma of its initial accumulation and subsequent sealing of the breach.

Should the universe’s entire mass have been concentrated in one location, its inherent instability would likely prompt an immediate explosion. This raises the question of the maximum mass that could be assembled before such an event. My hypothesis leans towards proximity playing a critical role. Perhaps the alignment of various singularities was optimal for projecting matter in a singular direction, subsequently dispersing, with each galaxy being birthed from a massive singularity ejecting matter. This scenario would imply a lesser amount of initial matter.

In this context, Occam’s Razor might appear dull in the early universe, despite a presumption of simplicity. The marvel that atoms can oscillate between solid and wave states, seemingly undecided in their nature, further illustrates the universe’s persistent disorder.

Entropy Rules

The universe is perpetually in a state of disintegration. Despite our efforts to construct and maintain, decay prevails as the natural order, governed by entropy. This raises the question: why would the universe coalesce in the first instance?

These reflections are part of my deeper contemplation on creation and the myriad phenomena that constitute our existence. The universe’s inherent disorder only adds to the intrigue of how scientific laws manage to sustain its functioning. Such chaos significantly undermines the notion of an all-powerful deity as the architect; one would expect a more orderly creation. However, the possibility remains that if such a being exists, they might not prioritize tidiness. Pondering the idea of a divine entity with a laissez-faire approach to cleanliness is indeed a profound thought to consider. Let’s delve into more profound thinking. This exchange of ideas is crucial, and I’ve yet to touch upon the topic of Gaussian extremes.

© GF Willmetts 2024

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UncleGeoff

Geoff Willmetts has been editor at SFCrowsnest for some 21 plus years now, showing a versatility and knowledge in not only Science Fiction, but also the sciences and arts, all of which has been displayed here through editorials, reviews, articles and stories. With the latter, he has been running a short story series under the title of ‘Psi-Kicks’ If you want to contribute to SFCrowsnest, read the guidelines and show him what you can do. If it isn’t usable, he spends as much time telling you what the problems is as he would with material he accepts. This is largely how he got called an Uncle, as in Dutch Uncle. He’s not actually Dutch but hails from the west country in the UK.

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