A weird but perplexing question about the universe

[Winston]

Here's a big question that no one can answer:

Why does anything exist at all in the universe? Why isn't the universe just one big void of nothing?

[Jackal]

Here's a partial answer from modern physics:

"Ripples at the Heart of Physics
By Simon Hands Theory Division, CERN, Geneva, Switzerland.

The Higgs boson is an undiscovered elementary particle, thought to be a vital piece of the closely fitting jigsaw of particle physics. Like all particles, it has wave properties akin to those ripples on the surface of a pond which has been disturbed; indeed, only when the ripples travel as a well defined group is it sensible to speak of a particle at all. In quantum language the analogue of the water surface which carries the waves is called a field. Each type of particle has its own corresponding field.

The Higgs field is a particularly simple one - it has the same properties viewed from every direction, and in important respects is indistinguishable from empty space. Thus physicists conceive of the Higgs field being "switched on", pervading all of space and endowing it with "grain" like that of a plank of wood. The direction of the grain in undetectable, and only becomes important once the Higgs' interactions with other particles are taken into account. for instance, particles called vector bosons can travel with the grain, in which case they move easily for large distances and may be observed as photons - that is, particles of light that we can see or record using a camera; or against, in which case their effective range is much shorter, and we call them W or Z particles. These play a central role in the physics of nuclear reactions, such as those occurring in the core of the sun.

The Higgs field enables us to view these apparently unrelated phenomenon as two sides of the same coin; both may be described in terms of the properties of the same vector bosons. When particles of matter such as electrons or quarks (elementary constituents of protons and neutrons, which in turn constitute the atomic nucleus) travel through the grain, they are constantly flipped "head-over-heels". this forces them to move more slowly than their natural speed, that of light, by making them heavy. We believe the Higgs field responsible for endowing virtually all the matter we know about with mass.

Like most analogies, the wood-grain one is persuasive but flawed: we should think of the grain as not defining a direction in everyday three-dimensional space, but rather in some abstract internal space populated by various kinds of vector boson, electron and quark.

The Higgs' ability to fill space with its mysterious presence makes it a vital component in more ambitious theories of how the Universe burst into existence out of some initial quantum fluctuation, and why the Universe prefers to be filled with matter rather than anti-matter; that is, why there is something rather than nothing. To constrain these ideas more rigorously, and indeed flesh out the whole picture, it is important to find evidence for the Higgs field at first hand - in other words, find the boson. There are unanswered questions: the Higgs' very simplicity and versatility, beloved of theorists, makes it hard to pin down. How many Higgs particles are there? Might it/they be made from still more elementary components? Most crucial, how heavy is it? Our current knowledge can only put its mass roughly between that of an iron atom and three times that of a uranium atom. This is a completely new form of matter about whose nature we still have only vague hints and speculations and its discovery is the most exciting prospect in contemporary particle physics."

[kristy_571]

I have a question that perplexes me. How come there are more calories in Nachos, then in a candy bar? And what if I drink a diet coke with the Nachos, would the nachos be diet nachos then as well?

Damn. That is the deepest thought I've had all day. My head is hurting from all this thinking.

[BeneGesseritBrother]

Things seem to exist because patterns exist in infinity; in the infinite number of universes. Within this pattern are polarities, like a binary code...our current stage of consciousness (which is a pattern within the larger pattern) is focused on these polarities, which is how the illusion of the "self seperate from Universe" develops.

That's how it makes sense to me. There are many fascinating perspectives within Hinduism and Buddhism (and other religions) which fully embrace the concept of nothing and the void. To my Western mind (America! f**k Yeah!) it's easier for me to accept that everything is a part of everything than it is that everything is Void.

[josephty2]

Physics requires group (learning).

So, Winston, instead of spending money on science projects, you paid so many pilots / airlines / the hospitality/tourism industry.

I'll help you. Not waste any more money.

The story of the male Quinn Pensky from Zoey 101 Season1

Mr. Wu/Pensky gets bullied in grade school

Mr. Wu/Pensky, who isn't White, goes to Taiwan in the summer

Mr. Wu/Pensky travels around the world after graduating college.

Mr. Wu/Pensky's only weakness during this was some cigarette smoker because instead of playing (and actually understanding) Poker which helps with long-term, he only understands Chess/Civilization (sid meiers) which is short-term.