Science for Thought

Nothing Revisited

Nothing Revisited

In my first book about science and religion-The Theory of Nothing-I came to the conclusion that the reality of 'nothing' doesn't make sense.

It turns out I was wrong!

The reason I can say this is because of quantum physics and a theory that is known as quantum fluctuation, which is based on the Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, the golden rule that dominates all quantum physics theories.
An equation that ties energy and time together in the uncertainty principle can be stated as:

  ∆E ∆t ≥ h/2

Where h is actually h-bar or h/(2 pi) or 5.272586 x 10 -35 Js (Joules-seconds). The symbol h is the plank constan, which is the quanta of electromagnetic action of a photon. The ∆ symbol stands for the uncertainty of a measurement.

The uncertainty principle states that one cannot measure precisely the energy of a particle pair at a precise time. Conversely, one cannot measure the exact time when the particle pair will have a precise energy. In other words, a particle pair could appear or disappear in a so-called vacuum state.

Essentially, this means that a quantum field's lowest energy or ground state is not one without particles, but rather with at least one particle or particles with momentums guaranteed to be at least 1 kg-m/s or kilograms per meter squared. That, in turn, means that particles can temporarily appear out of empty space or a vacuum. That's why they call this effect vacuum energy.

Some physicists say that vacuum energy could be 1000 kg-m/s (kilogram meters per second). In other words, there is lots of energy potential in a so-called vacuum state.

Essentially, empty space is alive with lots of boiling energy, both positive and negative, that fluctuates in and out of existence all of the time. This quantum fluctuation could be responsible for the so-called Big Bang and for the fact that universe is expanding at an accelerating rate.

Some cosmologists have declared that the expansion of the universe is due to dark energy, and this mysterious negative energy is very strong, much stronger than gravity or dark matter. It's as if the universe has an underlying energy that is just now showing its ugly head.

What quantum fluctuation theory suggests is that, according to the uncertainty principle, a quantum fluctuation could produce energetic particles out of empty space. In other words, there is an uncertainty in time and an uncertainty in energy, including the rest mass energy mc2. (mass times the speed of light squared), and this uncertainty could have given birth to the universe.

So, if you take away all of the stars, galaxies, dust, gas, planets, ice, and all other molecules and energy, including dark energy, you end up with this 'Nothing' that's alive with all sorts of energy that flows in and out of existence. Nothing turns out to be something!

Space-time is the backbone of the universe. We can't see it. We can't touch it. But, it's definitely something. Thanks to quantum physics, it's full of somethings.

Much of this mysterious quantum reality exists because we live in a flat universe. What this means is that if you trace out a triangle in the universe you get the 180 degrees, which you're supposed to according to the Pythagorean theorem. In other words, there is no curvature in the universe. And, because the universe is flat no matter how you calculate it, it means that it's infinite.

Another result of the universe being flat is that the all the positive and negative energy in the universe adds up to zero, whether you use joules, electron-volts or calories. This was true at the time of the Big Bang and it's still true. Nothing is being created or destroyed. These quantum fluctuations come and go, but when they do pop into existence, they give space a kick in the vacuum, so to speak. This could be why the universe is expanding.

This kick is what started the universe in the first place. This means that the universe could have come from so called 'Nothing'. It's all in how you define 'Nothing.'

One way to define it would be to say it's the something that the Big Bang came from.

Of course, this idea could lead many people to assume that there is no need for a creator. If stuff can pop into existence from 'Nothing', then why would you need a creator.

I would argue that this 'Nothing' is now something and had to be created along with all the laws of physics. Of course, this conclusion could be wrong. Again, it's open to argument as is most philosophical concepts.

But there is a way to look at this in a simplistic form.

To paraphrase lyrics from Billy Preston:
Nothin' from nothin' leaves nothin'
You gotta have somethin'if you wanna be with me.

Thanks for reading.