Podcast Summary
Exploring the Cosmic Queries of a Listener: While the popular theory suggests dark matter is made of new particles, a listener's intriguing idea of it being another universe's gravity has no evidence but can inspire curiosity and potential discoveries.
During a StarTalk episode, the hosts discussed various unanswered questions from listeners, which they referred to as "cosmic queries." These queries ranged from the scientific to the philosophical and even the seemingly trivial. One listener, Sarah, asked if dark matter could be the effect of another universe's gravity on our own. While the current favored theory is that dark matter is composed of new particles that do not interact with regular matter, Sarah expressed her desire for it to be something more exciting - another universe's gravity spilling into ours. The hosts acknowledged the intrigue of this idea but also the lack of evidence supporting it. They emphasized that while some theories may not be as popular or widely accepted, they can still spark curiosity and inspire new discoveries. The episode also touched upon the upcoming release of a book called "Cosmic Queries," which will explore some of the deepest and most thought-provoking questions ever asked.
Understanding Force Fields and the Possibility of Multiverse Interaction: Field theory explains force fields, which can't leave the universe except for gravity. Gravity might originate from another universe, implying vast amounts of matter and potential humility.
Field theory, introduced by Michael Faraday in the 19th century, is a fundamental concept in physics that describes force fields, which generate forces on objects but cannot exit the universe, except for gravity. Gravity can spill out of a universe and interact with another, suggesting the possibility of a larger, more powerful universe interacting with ours. Some theories propose that dark matter could be particles from this other universe, leading to massive experiments attempting to detect them. If this is true, it would mean a significant amount of regular matter exists in the other universe. The implications of this discovery could be humbling, as we might be a small part of a much larger cosmic structure. Additionally, Patreon supporters have access to exclusive content, including personalized cosmic queries answered by Neil deGrasse Tyson.
The Expanding Universe and the Loss of Cosmic Records: As the universe expands, records of its history beyond our current horizon may be lost to us, and civilizations with different conditions might not recognize the concept of space travel or a night sky.
Our universe is expanding, and as it continues to do so, everything beyond our current horizon will eventually disappear from our detectable range. This means that all records of the universe's history, including the Big Bang and the expansion, could be lost to us in the distant future. Additionally, if civilization were to arise on a planet like Venus with thick cloud cover and no night sky, they would have no concept of the night sky or the existence of space travel. These thoughts can delay sleep and raise existential questions about our current understanding of the universe.
Expanding Our Perspectives: Exploring new ways to understand the world around us is crucial, as our perspectives can be limited. Human connection and live experiences add depth to our understanding.
Our perspectives can be limited, just like how we might be imagining being in a spaceship emerging from clouds for the first time and only seeing the sun, stars, and planets. This discussion brought up the idea that we might be "buried under some cloak" preventing us from getting an accurate understanding of the world around us. This was a profound and thought-provoking concept. During the conversation, comedian Chuck Nice shared his experience of performing stand-up comedy during COVID-19, expressing that it's not as fun as doing it live with a live audience. This human connection is something that can't be replicated on Zoom. Neil deGrasse Tyson then answered a question about gravitational waves and their potential use in communicating with life in other universes. He explained that each gravitational wave is an entire window to the universe, just like how the telescope opened up new possibilities for Galileo. This shows that there are always new ways to explore and expand our knowledge. Overall, this conversation emphasized the importance of expanding our perspectives and seeking new ways to understand the world around us.
Discovering the 'Windows' to the Universe: Exploring beyond visible light through various forms of energy and phenomena like gravitational waves and neutrinos has led to significant advancements in our understanding of the universe.
Our understanding of the universe has expanded beyond what our eyes can see through the discovery of various forms of light and other phenomena like gravitational waves. Initially, a telescope was used to observe visible light, but with the discovery of infrared, ultraviolet, x rays, gamma rays, radio waves, and more, we had to define visible light in contrast to these other forms. The universe is not limited to the electromagnetic spectrum, and there are other "windows" to it, such as gravitational waves and neutrinos. The discovery of these windows has led to significant advancements in our understanding of the universe, including the birth of the universe and the existence of black holes. The concept of windows to the universe highlights the importance of continuing to explore and discover new phenomena beyond our current understanding.
The strength of forces decreases as they travel between universes: Forces experience dilution when entering a new universe, decreasing their strength rapidly based on the inverse square or cube law for two or three dimensions.
When forces, such as gravity or light, leave one universe and enter another, they are subject to an additional dimension of dilution. This dilution is described by the inverse square law for two dimensions and the inverse cube law for three dimensions. This means that the strength of the force decreases rapidly as it travels further away from its source. If other forces were to enter our universe from another, they would likely be affected by this same dilution effect. This could help explain why the strength of dark matter appears to be higher than we might expect, as it needs to make up for the extra dilution required to leave its own universe and enter ours. Overall, this discussion highlights the complex nature of the universe and the importance of considering the effects of dimensions and dilution when studying the behavior of physical forces.
The universe might end in a 'big rip': The universe could end in an expansion that tears apart galaxies, stars, and even particles, potentially occurring within the next 35 billion years.
The universe's end may not be as explosive or bright as we might hope. According to Neil deGrasse Tyson, the universe could end in a "big rip," where the expansion of the universe rips apart galaxies, stars, planets, and even the smallest particles. This process is already happening at an accelerating rate and could occur between 10 to the 30 and 10 to the 35 years in the future. Tyson shared this scenario during a Patreon shoutout, encouraging listeners to buy the Cosmic Queries book for more details. He also acknowledged the historical contribution of artists to science, particularly before the invention of cameras when scientists would draw their observations. Tyson emphasized that artists have always been a part of the scientific process, with Galileo's sketches being a notable example.
Art and Science: A Symbiotic Relationship: Throughout history, art and science have influenced each other, with artists documenting scientific discoveries and scientists inspiring artistic expression. The relationship between the two is essential for innovation and creativity.
Artists and scientists have played interconnected roles throughout history, with artists contributing significantly to scientific documentation and discovery, and scientists influencing artistic expression through technological advancements. While artists have often been the catalysts for scientific thinking and exploration, the reverse is also true. The relationship between the two fields is symbiotic, with each driving innovation and creativity in the other. However, there is a need for better communication between scientists and the public, making the argument for scientists taking communications classes more compelling than an emphasis on art education. Ultimately, the appreciation for beauty and creativity in the world, whether it's through scientific discoveries or artistic creations, is essential for a fulfilling existence.
Art vs Science: Different Realms of Creativity: Art is unique to its creator, while science follows natural laws. Science's creativity lies in understanding these laws, not breaking them. Considering which discoveries lead to new questions about the universe is worth pondering.
While both art and science involve creativity, they exist in different realms. Artistic expressions are unique to their creators, and there's no guarantee that they would be recreated if the artist didn't exist. On the other hand, scientific discoveries are bound by the laws of nature, and someone else could potentially discover the same thing. The creative process in science is about understanding and adhering to these laws, rather than breaking them. A thought-provoking question we should consider but haven't yet is which discoveries are necessary for us to ask new questions about the universe that are currently beyond our understanding. Vitesh Sinha's idea of a borderless world is intriguing, but the reality is that human history is marked by conflicts and divisions. Despite our commonalities, we have found reasons to mistreat and even kill each other, making it challenging to imagine a borderless world. An interesting fact is that while we can observe hundreds of supernovas a year with dedicated telescopes, the first one visible to the unaided eye since the 1600s was discovered in 1987. This discovery was made by an astronomer who verified the observation with his eyes instead of the telescope.
Historically significant supernova captivated global scientific community: The 1987 supernova, a global scientific phenomenon, demonstrated the importance of collaboration and shared knowledge in advancing scientific understanding.
The supernova of 1987, also known as Supernova 1987A, was a historically significant astronomical event that captivated the attention of scientists worldwide. This supernova, which was visible to the naked eye, was the most studied in history, with telescopes from around the world abandoning their ongoing research projects to gather data on it. The event was observed across the electromagnetic spectrum, from radio waves to ultraviolet, yielding thousands of research papers. Despite being below the horizon, telescopes waited for it to rise. The global scientific community's collective response underscores the importance of collaboration and shared knowledge in advancing scientific understanding. This event serves as a testament to humanity's curiosity and determination to explore the mysteries of the universe.