Religion

marylandblue

(12,344 posts)

9. As I understand it, the best current hypothesis is that "nothing" is unstable

Thu Jan 31, 2019, 03:12 PM

Jan 2019

"Nothing" is a physical phenomenon. It has properties. It is not the "philospher's nothing" that has no capability of ever being something.

Instability in "nothing" is likely quantum, with potential energy and pairs of virtual particles randomly popping in and out of existence, similar but probably distinguishable from the process in empty space. If one of these random fluctuations got above a certain size, it could end up expanding forever instead of winking back out of existence. There's a paper online somewhere that proves this mathematically. But we don't a way of verifying it by observation yet.

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Creation Myths Come in Many Forms. [View all] MineralMan Jan 2019 OP

What causes the singularity? zipplewrath Jan 2019 #1

I'm not sure that "causes" is the right word. MineralMan Jan 2019 #3

Well, I'm avoiding semantics zipplewrath Jan 2019 #4

As I understand it, the best current hypothesis is that "nothing" is unstable marylandblue Jan 2019 #9

An old hypotheses zipplewrath Jan 2019 #12

Since discarded by the compelling evidence Voltaire2 Feb 2019 #29

As marylandblue pointed out one idea is that MineralMan Jan 2019 #11

"I don't know" is a perfectly legitimate answer Ron Obvious Jan 2019 #7

Therefore God! Voltaire2 Feb 2019 #30

I don't know. I'm kinda partial to Jesus vomiting up the universe. 3Hotdogs Jan 2019 #2

Are you sure? gtar100 Jan 2019 #5

Along those lines: MarvinGardens Jan 2019 #8

It may be that existence can only "be" because of an observer. gtar100 Jan 2019 #20

Alternatively, mythologies are really psychological stories marylandblue Jan 2019 #10

Myths are imagined explanations of things we cannot experience. MineralMan Jan 2019 #15

But, time may not exist except within the physical universe. MineralMan Jan 2019 #13

Is there any evidence edhopper Jan 2019 #16

Good question. MineralMan Jan 2019 #17

That is not a question gtar100 Jan 2019 #18

I am a naturalist edhopper Jan 2019 #19

Actually it literally is. Voltaire2 Feb 2019 #28

Step on a crack! TwistOneUp Jan 2019 #6

Yes. Something like that. MineralMan Jan 2019 #14

I can't be 100% sure that we don't live in a simulated reality... MarvinGardens Jan 2019 #21

Oh, I think pretty much everyone has flirted with that idea MineralMan Feb 2019 #22

Sometimes a deity... NeoGreen Feb 2019 #23

Yes. I remember that. MineralMan Feb 2019 #24

No worries... NeoGreen Feb 2019 #25

For years in Tulsa TlalocW Feb 2019 #26

What a great idea! MineralMan Feb 2019 #27