This might be a dumb question, so sorry if that is the case. But, since there is no eternal being who always is and always was that created everything, then is matter eternal? I'm sure that's an unanswerable question. But, just curious if there are any thoughts out there or maybe new scientific info on the topic. And, also, what is beyond our universe? If there are other universes, then what is in between our universe and the other universes and then what's beyond that? Does it ever end? Again, I'm sure these are unanswerable questions, but I just thought maybe there was someone out there who had some ideas. It's just mind boggling to think about what's beyond all this and then what's beyond all that, ad infinitum.
No, matter is not eternal.
The (what I know to be) strongest standing theory suggests that matter is a state of energy, thus, by inducing that state in energy, matter can be created and by moving from that state, it can be destroyed.
For destruction of matter, look up antimatter.
I don't have the sufficient time to properly reply about multiverses, strings and membranes, but a theory suggests that the "cold spot" in cosmic background radiation map and the galactic movement mean that there is another universe outside of this one that, while unseen and ungettable to, can still be observed by its effects on this one.
It's not a very strong theory, but it's still on the books as far as I know.
Quote from: Asmodean on March 21, 2012, 05:49:24 AM
No, matter is not eternal.
The (what I know to be) strongest standing theory suggests that matter is a state of energy, thus, by inducing that state in energy, matter can be created and by moving from that state, it can be destroyed.
For destruction of matter, look up antimatter.
I don't have the sufficient time to properly reply about multiverses, strings and membranes, but a theory suggests that the "cold spot" in cosmic background radiation map and the galactic movement mean that there is another universe outside of this one that, while unseen and ungettable to, can still be observed by its effects on this one.
It's not a very strong theory, but it's still on the books as far as I know.
This sounds so similar to like a plot in the DC Comics: infinite crisis or crisis on infinite earths.
it sounds insanely interesting, Asmo. I love science :)
Now i'm off to research anti matter.
I see you're starting with the easy questions! ;D
Quote from: Asherah on March 21, 2012, 02:45:59 AM
This might be a dumb question, so sorry if that is the case. But, since there is no eternal being who always is and always was that created everything, then is matter eternal? I'm sure that's an unanswerable question. But, just curious if there are any thoughts out there or maybe new scientific info on the topic.
Protons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proton#Stability) and electrons are the basic building blocks of matter.
QuoteThe spontaneous decay of free protons has never been observed, and the proton is therefore considered a stable particle. However, some grand unified theories of particle physics predict that proton decay should take place with lifetimes of the order of 10^36 yr, and experimental searches have established lower bounds on the mean lifetime of the proton for various assumed decay products.
So the basic building block of matter has never been observed to decay.
Quote from: Asherah on March 21, 2012, 02:45:59 AMAnd, also, what is beyond our universe? If there are other universes, then what is in between our universe and the other universes and then what's beyond that? Does it ever end? Again, I'm sure these are unanswerable questions, but I just thought maybe there was someone out there who had some ideas. It's just mind boggling to think about what's beyond all this and then what's beyond all that, ad infinitum.
Rather out of my league here. As far as I am aware the existence of parallel universes is still theoretical and could well remain so as the nature of alternative universes is (at this time) untestable.
Matter and energy are the same thing, just different forms.
When matter is transformed e.g. fusion or fission then some energy is expelled.
Energy might be eternal, but what is important to know is that all the energy in our universe adds up to 0.
In terms of conservation of energy principle it means it will always add up to 0, no matter what you do.
Quote from: Stevil on March 21, 2012, 08:13:52 AM
Matter and energy are the same thing, just different forms.
When matter is transformed e.g. fusion or fission then some energy is expelled.
Energy might be eternal, but what is important to know is that all the energy in our universe adds up to 0.
In terms of conservation of energy principle it means it will always add up to 0, no matter what you do.
However, the Law of Conservation of Energy pertains to a closed system. Who knows if our universe is a closed system? We could be getting energy from an outside source.
No.
E=MC² is the formula used to predict the amount of energy that is released from the complete annihilation of matter.
Quote from: Crow on March 21, 2012, 01:54:13 PM
No.
E=MC² is the formula used to predict the amount of energy that is released from the complete annihilation of matter.
And this formula states that matter and energy are transferable.
Quote from: Stevil on March 21, 2012, 07:13:35 PM
Quote from: Crow on March 21, 2012, 01:54:13 PM
No.
E=MC² is the formula used to predict the amount of energy that is released from the complete annihilation of matter.
And this formula states that matter and energy are transferable.
Transferable yes but not eternal.
Quote from: Stevil on March 21, 2012, 07:13:35 PM
Quote from: Crow on March 21, 2012, 01:54:13 PM
No.
E=MC² is the formula used to predict the amount of energy that is released from the complete annihilation of matter.
And this formula states that matter and energy are transferable.
How does energy get back into matter?
Quote from: Tank on March 21, 2012, 08:01:09 PM
How does energy get back into matter?
I don't think the hows of it are even remotely understood at this point, but I have come across this (http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/253194/20111121/let-light-scientists-create.htm) lately (Well, close to - my article was on paper, but this is the same thing)
Quote from: Asmodean on March 21, 2012, 08:12:32 PM
Quote from: Tank on March 21, 2012, 08:01:09 PM
How does energy get back into matter?
I don't think the hows of it are even remotely understood at this point, but I have come across this (http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/253194/20111121/let-light-scientists-create.htm) lately (Well, close to - my article was on paper, but this is the same thing)
Most interesting.
Quote from: Asmodean on March 21, 2012, 08:12:32 PM
Quote from: Tank on March 21, 2012, 08:01:09 PM
How does energy get back into matter?
I don't think the hows of it are even remotely understood at this point, but I have come across this (http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/253194/20111121/let-light-scientists-create.htm) lately (Well, close to - my article was on paper, but this is the same thing)
Wow. So cool!
The question hence is =Is the 0 eternal?
the virtual particles bouncing into real particles from vacuum space! well, we are certainly not able to actually say if matter/energy is eternal or not.
it seems as if it is, to me though..
That article is much more interesting after googling what virtual particles are.
That is cool, but photons don't have mass, they have momentum. ???
Virtual particals have mass, or something, but apparently it isn't mass that is detectable (Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle).
Doesn't say much about whether the energy field that virtual particles come from is eternal though. ???
I found a documentary by the Discovery Channel on Netflix and it's called How the Universe Works. I've been watching it and have learned a freaking ton!!! I have had all of my questions answered insofar as those things can be understood. They talk about matter, anti-matter, dark energy, black holes, super-novas, hyper-novas, the multi-verse hypothesis, etc, etc. It's so amazing. Now, my five year old son and I have been watching it together and even he is understanding a lot of it. They put it into layman's terms so that we can understand. It's a whole series of documentaries. Anyways, if you have Netflix, check it out.
Quote from: Asherah on March 21, 2012, 02:45:59 AM
This might be a dumb question, so sorry if that is the case. But, since there is no eternal being who always is and always was that created everything, then is matter eternal? I'm sure that's an unanswerable question. But, just curious if there are any thoughts out there or maybe new scientific info on the topic. And, also, what is beyond our universe? If there are other universes, then what is in between our universe and the other universes and then what's beyond that? Does it ever end? Again, I'm sure these are unanswerable questions, but I just thought maybe there was someone out there who had some ideas. It's just mind boggling to think about what's beyond all this and then what's beyond all that, ad infinitum.
It's not a dumb question....but the short answer is that we don't know yet and it's possible it may be one of those questions that humans can't answer due to our limitations (like if there is no beyond the universe we couldn't travel outside of it to check).
Even philosophy doesn't have an workable answer because something being uncaused and something always existing both don't really make much sense compared to what we can observe.
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on March 23, 2012, 07:37:56 PM
That is cool, but photons don't have mass, they have momentum. ???
Virtual particals have mass, or something, but apparently it isn't mass that is detectable (Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle).
Doesn't say much about whether the energy field that virtual particles come from is eternal though. ???
Surely photons have mass. Light is affected by gravity, gravity requires mass. Light cannot escape a black hole.
The uncertainty principle is about the inability to measure momentum and position of an electron at the same time.
Quote from: Stevil on April 21, 2012, 04:31:01 AM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on March 23, 2012, 07:37:56 PM
That is cool, but photons don't have mass, they have momentum. ???
Virtual particals have mass, or something, but apparently it isn't mass that is detectable (Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle).
Doesn't say much about whether the energy field that virtual particles come from is eternal though. ???
Surely photons have mass. Light is affected by gravity, gravity requires mass. Light cannot escape a black hole.
The uncertainty principle is about the inability to measure momentum and position of an electron at the same time.
Light does not have mass. A photon's path appears distorted because the structure of spacetime, through which the massless photon is 'travelling', is distorted by mass. This distortion is what we call gravity. So mass distorts spacetime which photons travel through.
Quote from: Tank on April 21, 2012, 08:24:32 AM
Light does not have mass. A photon's path appears distorted because the structure of spacetime, through which the massless photon is 'travelling', is distorted by mass. This distortion is what we call gravity. So mass distorts spacetime which photons travel through.
Time for me to pick up some more science books.
You might want to look into gravitational lensing. :)
Quote from: Tank on April 21, 2012, 08:24:32 AM
A photon's path appears distorted because the structure of spacetime, through which the massless photon is 'travelling', is distorted by mass. This distortion is what we call gravity. So mass distorts spacetime which photons travel through.
(after a week in Nederland's Amsterdam)
the above statement is so exceptionally flamboyant and spectacular that,
in consequence,
renders the question " is matter eternal"
irrelevant and nearing the border of ridiculously wasted thoughttime