Stuart’s Thoughts 3/1/2019

Why The Universe?

A number of highly regarded cosmologists and physicists have described the universe as we currently understand it and often include theories regarding its origin and eventual fate.  The scales of space and time described are so vast that it is difficult, if not impossible, for the human mind to grasp the perspective, particularly in a manner that relates to the tiny bit of existence occupied by our species and one that we can appreciate.  An area of intense current scientific interest is the identification of exoplanets, other planets orbiting stars other than our sun that could support life as we know it.  In other words, planets that are located at just the right distance from their stars so as to provide the right combination of physical conditions e.g., geology and temperature range, which could be supportive of life, i.e., a rocky planet in the star’s habitable zone or so-called “Goldilocks Zone”. 

This entire branch of  “bio-cosmology”, i.e., searching for life throughout the universe, is in its infancy.  It’s only been since the launch of the Kepler space telescope in 2009  that we have been seriously searching for exoplanets.  Yet in this brief 10 year period, about 4,000 exoplanets have been identified orbiting some of the 150,000 stars in one small patch of the sky. The data from Kepler now suggests that  considering there are about 100 billion stars in the Milky Way galaxy, there could be approximately 25 billion places where life could take hold in our galaxy alone.  When you add to this the fact that there are trillions of galaxies in the Universe, nearly all scientists would agree that there are likely untold numbers of sites of life throughout the Universe.

The big question is, will the discovery of these exoplanets have any consequences to we humans on earth?  Can we identify the presence of life on one or more of the exoplanets? If we identify the probability of life existing on an exoplanet, wilt it be intelligent life?  Also, will we ever be able to make contact with it?  The major problem we are likely to encounter is the great distance between earth and the exoplanet.  For example, the closest exoplanet that we have identified to date is Proxima Centauri b which orbits the star Proxima Centauri, a near neighbor, only 4.2 light years from earth.  However, despite its relative proximity, even radio contact will be difficult since the signal going each direction would take more than four years to make the trip.  That means an answer to a posed question would not be received for more than eight years after posing the question.  Given that time frame, answers or the question itself may  have become irrelevant.  Physically traveling by space craft from earth to Proxima Centauri b is even more problematic since even our fastest rocket craft, Pioneer 10 traveling at 40,000 mph, would take 12,000 years to reach Proxima Centauri b.  These time frames would be many times greater to contact an exoplanet on the other side of our galaxy.  Exoplanets in other galaxies would seem to be impossible targets, unless we discover how to warp space, how to find and use worm holes or how to transport via quantum entanglement.

Humans have only recently left the surface of the earth to explore our closest neighbors.  We have landed astronauts on the moon but only now are exploring the surface of Mars via robotic rovers.  With an eventual goal of traveling to Proxima Centauri b, our progress is akin to exploring a neighboring town vs an eventual goal of traveling to Australia.  We have a long way to go and a tremendous amount of money to invest.  Who knows if such a mission will ever be achieved successfully.  

Although humans have made impressive progress in exploring our solar system and understanding the science governing events in the fields of cosmology and astrophysics, many of the most basic questions regarding the universe and our place in it remain unanswered.  If the universe began with the “big bang” approximately 13.8 billion years ago, where was everything now contained in the universe just before the “big bang” and how could all of that “stuff” fit in a dimensionless singularity?  What caused the “big bang”?  The second law of thermodynamics states that everything in the universe is headed for a state of maximum dispersion, i.e., maximum entropy.  What then?

While many have guessed at answers to these questions, none of these answers have been universally accepted and, in fact, seem to fall far short of our usual standards of credibility.  Thus, my question is why the universe?  Why does it exist?  Is it a shear accident of nature or is it part of an elaborate plan of nature?  If it is the later, what is the ultimate goal of such a plan and why are we here?  Are we just passengers going along for the ride or is the human species of central importance and intended to play a significant role in achieving nature’s ultimate goal?

Religion easily provides answers to these and other related questions.  Everything is proceeding according to God’s master plan and everything that happens does so because it is the will of God.  However, for those who don’t believe in the unquestioned guidance of a supreme being, science has yet to match religion in addressing these questions.  What do you think?  Why does the universe exist and why do we find ourselves in it?