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The universe exploded into existence fifteen to twenty billion years ago in a catalysmic event known as the Big Bang. The universe was about 10 to the power -33 centimetres(planck length) in size, having a density of 10 raised to the 94 grams per cubic centimetre before the planck time (10 raised to the -43 seconds). Superstring theory claims that the big bang occurred due to the vibrations of one dimensional strings resulting in matter, space, time, and energy being created. Superstring theory claims that the universe was in 10 space dimensions and 1 dimension of time, and it split into a four dimensional(space dimensions) universe and a six dimensional(space dimensions) universe. The four dimensional universe expanded outwards extending the four space dimensions while the six dimensional universe collapsed into curled up dimensions small as the planck length. After the Big Bang, the universe expanded exponentially doubling its size every 10 raised to the -35 seconds. The expansion was caused due to the fact that at high temperatures ( 10 raised to the 32 Kelvins) the strong nuclear, weak nuclear, electromagnetic, and gravitational forces united to form a single force known as the superforce. This process yielded energy ( dark energy) which drove the expansion of the universe similar to the heat energy released when steam condenses back to water. This theory is known as the Inflation theory of the universe. The exponential expansion of the universe was halted when the superforce split into its component parts(i.e the srong nuclear, weak nuclear, electromagnetic, and gravitational forces), thus, forming an ordered universe. The order of the universe and its harmonius nature has intrigued physicists for a long time as supported by the fact that the microwave background radiation average temperature is about 2.72 Kelvins viewed from any direction, and one also sees a uniform distribution of matter and energy. The universe(156 billion light year wide, 13.7 billion years old) is made of 73% dark energy, 23% dark matter( found on the outside of galaxies, thus, preventing the galaxies from flying apart and maintaining its spiral nature), and 4% ordinary matter(atoms). Michio Kaku says that we are bystanders to the cosmic dance. When one looks at the fundamental constants of nature, one feels that they have been chosen or fine tuned. If these numbers differed slightly from their current values, then there wouldn't be any stable nuclei, thus, DNA wouldn't have been able to form and we wouldn't have had stable stars. The precision is 1 in 10 raised to the 120. This sort of scenario suggests a cosmic architect. However, the problem lies in the fact that how can a timeless god (eternal) be responsible for a time changing (ephemeral ) universe. Another problem is how do we comprehend god, is it an infinite mind? or is it just physics as Plato suggested.The quest to understand god has always been complicated, as it is hard to believe logically that there is only one god and he possesses all the necessary information to justify his existence. We humanbeings have always been fascinated with God(s) to explain phenomena only to see it put paid by an intelligent physicist/scientist. These are what we call GOD-OF-THE-GAP arguments. The universe can be explained perfectly by the laws of physics. We humanbeings are not used to working with mysticisim because they defy the laws of physics. Quantum cosmology is an alternate theory explaining the origin of the universe. It is sometimes called the multiverse theory which basically states that they are infinite universes each with different configurations of matter and energy and each universe having its own fundamental constants of nature. The universe in which the laws of physics provide the right conditions for life to occur gets actualized, and all other universes(parallel universes) are connected to this universe via wormholes(hypothetical tubes that connect different regions of spacetime). The other explanation for the creation of our universe was given by Einstein known as the parent sheet theory or baby universes. This theory basically states that our universe could be an offshoot of another universe. Spacetime is bent, one can visulalize bumps in space time.(gravity is a spacewarp, as proposed by Einstein's general theory of relativity, it's like a stretched rubber sheet, and imagine a massive ball placed in the middle, this would result in the bending of the rubber sheet, now start rolling a few smaller balls on the periphery of this sheet with enough speed such that the tangential velocity component is greater than the inward normal velocity component(i.e towards the massive body), thus, resulting in the balls revolving around the massive ball, therefore, mass bends space and in turn space guides mass. As the gravitational field strength increases the bumps inflate like a balloon, but the neck of the balloon(wormhole) gets narrower and narrower, and finally the bump detaches giving rise or birth to a new universe leaving a blackhole behind. Superstring theory provides a harmonious merger of Einstein's general theory of relativity(theory of the macroworld) and quantum mechanics(theory of the microworld - atomic/subatomic scale). Molecules are made of atoms and atoms are made of electrons and a nucleus(protons and neutrons) in turn the protons are made of 2 up quarks and 1 down quark and the neutrons are made from 2 down quarks and 1 up quark. All ordinary matter
is composed of the up quark, down quark, electron, and the electron neutrino. These subatomic particles(protons, neutrons, and electrons) look like pointmasses, however, when observed many orders of magnitude smaller than current technological limits(we can probe down to 10 raised to the eighteenth of a meter) about the planck length, these point particles are infact one dimensional strings vibrating at different resonances(patterns of vibrations), thus, based on the pattern in which the string vibrates gives rise to its properties such as mass, energy, force, and charge, in a similar analogy to vibrating strings on a violin, that is different resonances giving rise to different musical notes. The more frantic a string, the more energy it has and using Einstein's formula E=MC(SQUARED), one can determine the mass property of a string. Quantum
fluctuations dominate the microworld, where the property of cause and effect is nullified. The microworld world is truly an indeterministic world. According to Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle, which states that you can't determine precisely the position and momentum of a given particle at the same time(change in position multiplied by change in momentum equals planck constant divided by 2*pi).There is a similar relation involving energy(change in energy multiplied by change in time equals planck constant divided by 2*pi) which means there is also energy fluctuations which are negative. Superstring theory, claims that the universe has nine space dimensions which is a theoretical result. The probabilites of events are sensitive to the number of dimensions, and it was found out from a string calculation that there are nine dimensions, otherwise the probabilies become negative, and, thus, leads to meaningless results. This is just a basic explanation, it's a deeply involved and mathematically intriguing enterprise.Further work by physicists have shown that the nine space dimensions is an approximate number and it was found out that there are 10 space dimesions and 1 time dimension forming an 11 dimensional space time. String theory has promising prospects and may well be the defining point for our universe. On a final note, invest your trust in physics/science to guide you as ignorance when nurtured gets firmly sewn into the fabric of the mindscape. Physics has revolutionized our society in applications ranging from photolithography which has been the fuel supply for computers and DNA sequencing which has been the fuel supply for molecular biology and genetics. It is an awesome subject which unleashes its raw power by explaining physical phenomena in a mathematical framework. |
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