Podcast Summary
Exploring the latest theories in space, time, and dimensions: Cosmologist Janet Levin discusses the possibility of a holographic universe and shares her fascination, emphasizing the need for more research to confirm the theory.
During this episode of Cosmic Queries on StarTalk, Neil deGrasse Tyson discussed the latest thinking about black holes and the possibility of a holographic universe with cosmologist Janet Levin. They were joined by comedian and magician Harrison Greenbaum, who brought some levity to the topic. The team received questions from the audience about various astrophysics topics, including the possibility of a holographic universe. Janet shared her expertise on the subject, and Harrison entertained the audience with his wit. The team couldn't answer all the questions, but they tried their best. A question from a Patreon supporter asked about Janet's thoughts on a holographic universe and if empirical evidence of such a universe would change her daily life. Janet expressed her fascination with the idea, but emphasized that it's still a theory and more research is needed to confirm it. Overall, the episode explored the extremes of astrophysics and the latest theories in space, time, and dimensions.
The holographic universe theory suggests all info needed is encoded on a surface, not in 3D space.: The holographic universe theory proposes that all the information required to understand the universe can be encoded on a surface, challenging our understanding of the fundamental nature of the universe.
The theory of the holographic universe suggests that all the information required to understand the universe can be encoded on a surface, rather than in the full three-dimensional space. This idea arose from the study of black holes, where it was discovered that the information content of a black hole scales with the surface area of its event horizon, not its volume. This concept challenged physicists, as it meant trying to understand how information could be put on a surface that doesn't exist. Leonard Susskind, a physicist from Stanford, delved deeper into this idea and proposed that as an object falls into a black hole, it might appear to the astronaut that they have crossed their event horizon and met their fate in the interior, but in reality, the information is still on the surface. This theory, which is still being explored, challenges our understanding of the fundamental nature of the universe.
Understanding Reality: Black Holes, Holograms, and Quantum Complementarity: Black holes may appear to have smeared information on their surface, but from an astronaut's perspective, they fall straight through. Quantum complementarity suggests seemingly incompatible things can coexist, and holograms can update information and move in time. The nature of time and space, and our place in the universe, remain mysteries.
According to the discussion, our understanding of reality, particularly in relation to black holes and holograms, is complex and may seem paradoxical. On the outside, it appears that information and matter may be smeared on the surface of a black hole and that an astronaut falling in may not actually cross the event horizon. However, from the astronaut's perspective, they experience falling straight through. This concept of quantum complementarity suggests that seemingly incompatible things can exist at the same time. The idea that holograms are frozen is a technological limitation, and it's possible for holograms to update information and move in time. The debate about whether we live in a hologram or not raises questions about the nature of time and space, and whether we are prisoners of the present. Ultimately, if we were 100% sure that we are a hologram, it's unclear how we should behave differently or to whom we are a hologram. The discussion highlights the complexities and mysteries of our universe and the importance of continued exploration and questioning.
Understanding the Universe as Information and Holography: Our view of reality is shifting towards matter as information and holographic principles, challenging our concrete thinking and highlighting the illusion of solid matter.
Our understanding of the universe and reality itself is shifting towards viewing matter as information and everything as being holographic. The black hole is used as an analogy for the boundaries of our knowledge, and holography is a way to pack a large amount of information into a small space. Matter, including electrons, is now seen as just a collection of information about its quantum properties. Rutherford's discovery of the empty nature of atoms is an example of the vast amount of empty space in the physical world. This perspective challenges our concrete thinking and highlights the illusion of physical reality being solid matter.
The Universe Might Contain Both Black and White Holes: Theoretically, the universe could have black and white holes, possibly connected through a wormhole, although white holes are no longer a focus of search in astrophysics
The universe, according to a theoretical concept, may have both black and white holes, which are the opposite solutions of each other in the realm of physics. These holes could potentially be connected through a wormhole. During the discussion, it was suggested that white holes might have been misidentified as quasars in the past, but they are no longer a focus of search in the scientific community. This idea of the existence of white holes and their potential connection to black holes is an intriguing concept in astrophysics, highlighting the complexity and interconnectedness of the universe.
A black hole could contain a new universe: The idea that a black hole might be connected to a white hole, creating a new universe, challenges our understanding of the universe's boundaries and raises questions about potential instability
The discussion revolved around the idea of a white hole, which could be connected to the interior of a black hole. This concept suggests that instead of dealing with the problematic singularities found in black holes, we could repair them by merging them with the Big Bang, creating a new universe. The idea has been met with mixed reactions in the scientific community, as some argue it could lead to instability in the universe due to the potential for an excessive number of black hole-created universes. However, others still explore this concept, and it's a topic that could lead to intriguing dinner party conversations. To simplify, the idea proposes that a black hole could contain a whole new universe on its inside, making it bigger than what we perceive on the outside. While this concept is intriguing, it raises questions about the potential instability of the universe due to the possibility of an excessive number of black hole-created universes. Despite these concerns, some scientists continue to explore this idea, which adds to the intrigue and complexity of our understanding of the universe.
The concept of negative mass challenges our understanding of physics: Negative mass, a theoretical idea, suggests the existence of less energy states on the inside of systems compared to the outside, but its potential instability raises questions about its feasibility
While mathematical concepts can provide intriguing insights, not every idea can be physically realized. The existence of negative mass, which is problematic due to its potential instability, is an example of this. Negative mass does not exist in the physical world as we know it, but can be observed in subtle quantum states between very close objects. This concept challenges our understanding of physics, as it suggests the existence of less energy states on the inside of these systems compared to the outside. However, the idea of negative mass remains highly theoretical and unproven, and its potential instability raises significant questions about its feasibility. The universe's vastness and complexity mean that even seemingly implausible concepts can eventually be proven true, but not every mathematical idea can be realized in physical reality.
Negative Mass Particles and the Stability of the Universe: Despite the intriguing concept of negative mass particles potentially generating infinite energy, their existence contradicts the stability of the universe as we know it.
The discussion explored the hypothetical concept of negative mass particles and their potential to generate infinite energy. However, it was pointed out that such a scenario could lead to an unstable universe and potentially catastrophic consequences. The stability of the universe as we know it is evidence against the existence of negative mass particles. Additionally, the concept of star generations was clarified, with the focus being on the enrichment of elements and the formation of planets and life. The smallest black hole size is still unknown, and there is no atom named with one neutron less than its atomic weight.
Microscopic black holes: Light, unstable, and elusive: Stephen Hawking's discovery of black hole evaporation raises paradoxes, and despite their potential as life creators, no primordial black holes have been found yet.
A microscopic black hole, though conceivable, would be incredibly light, around the weight of a modest pile of sand, and incredibly unstable due to evaporation. Stephen Hawking's discovery that black holes evaporate, despite not letting anything out, presents a paradox that has been a topic of interest since the 1970s. Despite the search for primordial black holes in the early universe, none have been found yet. Another interesting concept discussed was the idea of a white hole, an opposite to a black hole that spews out things. A good soup for creating life, according to Neil deGrasse Tyson, would include the basic ingredients of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen, with carbon being the stickiest element capable of making the most kinds of molecules.
The importance of the journey in science: Explore new questions and discoveries, approach the unknown with a rigorous and skeptical mindset, and focus on studying the known universe for potential signs of life.
The quest for knowledge and discovery is more important than the answers themselves. Both Janna and Joshua emphasized the importance of the journey in science, rather than the destination. Janna expressed her excitement in the search for new questions and discoveries, while Joshua shared his fascination with the unknown and the potential for new physical phenomena. Regarding the topic of dark matter and dark energy, the consensus was that they are likely not indications of alien technology beyond human comprehension. Instead, they are phenomena that can be studied and understood through scientific methods. The focus should be on exploring the known universe, particularly exoplanets, for potential signs of life. Another key point from the discussion was the importance of being open-minded but also skeptical. Joshua mentioned the temptation to attribute unknown phenomena to magic or aliens, but the history of such assumptions has proven to be a dead end. Instead, scientists must resist this temptation and approach the unknown with a rigorous and skeptical mindset. Lastly, the conversation touched on the idea that knowledge and discovery are not always immediate. Both Janna and Joshua expressed a preference for a gradual, ongoing process of learning, rather than sudden revelations or never-ending mysteries. This balanced approach allows for the excitement of discovery while also acknowledging the importance of persistence and patience.
Black Holes in Our Universe: Abundant and Growing: Black holes are common cosmic entities, with about 1% of stars collapsing into them. Our galaxy hosts a supermassive black hole and billions of smaller ones. Universally, there are as many galaxies as stars in the Milky Way, each with a supermassive black hole. Black holes merge, growing in size and releasing energy.
The universe is filled with an immense number of black holes. In our galaxy alone, there are billions of stars, and about 1% of those stars will eventually collapse into black holes. Our galaxy also hosts a supermassive black hole at its center, surrounded by tens of thousands of smaller black holes. In the observable universe, there are as many galaxies as there are stars in the Milky Way, each with a supermassive black hole at its core. Black holes can even merge with each other, growing in size and releasing a massive amount of energy. Despite the universal expansion, galaxies like the Milky Way are still on a collision course with each other, such as the Andromeda galaxy. The discovery of the first direct evidence of black hole mergers was a groundbreaking achievement, and the pursuit to understand these cosmic phenomena has been a long-term scientific endeavor.
The Universe: An Expanding Fabric: The universe is expanding, but nearby objects' gravity can make it seem stationary. The universe could be finite or infinite, with an infinite expanse of space beyond the observable universe.
The universe can be thought of as an expanding fabric, where every point in it believes they are at the center and objects are moving away in all directions. However, nearby objects' gravity overpowers the universe's expansion, making it seem as if they're not moving away. The universe could be finite or infinite, and if it's infinite, there's an infinite expanse of space beyond the observable universe. Einstein famously said that only two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity, leaving us pondering the true nature of our cosmos.
Appreciating and Understanding Our Planet, Earth: Let's not take Earth for granted and continue to learn and appreciate its wonders through science and exploration.
Key takeaway from this episode of StarTalk is the importance of appreciating and understanding our planet, Earth. Neil deGrasse Tyson, our host, emphasized this throughout the discussion. He encouraged us to keep looking at the Earth, reminding us of its wonders and the interconnectedness of all things. The guests spoke about various topics, from the origins of the universe to the mysteries of consciousness, but they all came back to the significance of our home planet. They highlighted the importance of science in helping us understand the world around us and the need for continued exploration and discovery. Ultimately, the message was clear: let's not take our planet for granted and let's continue to learn and appreciate the beauty and complexity of the Earth.