On the origin of time – with Thomas Hertog
The Royal Institution・30 minutes read
Stephen Hawking and the speaker proposed a theory where the laws of physics simplify into the Big Bang, erasing distinctions between time and space, influenced by quantum theory. This model aims to merge evolutionary concepts of biology and physics, viewing the laws of physics and biology as part of one evolutionary process leading to the universe's origin.
Insights
- The Big Bang theory, originating from Georges Lemaître's work, revolutionized cosmology by proposing an expanding universe's origin, supported by observations of cosmic evolution over 13 billion years.
- Stephen Hawking's integration of quantum theory into cosmological models challenges traditional views, suggesting a universe where observation shapes reality, potentially erasing the laws of physics into the Big Bang, emphasizing an evolutionary approach to understanding the universe's origins.
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Recent questions
What is the Big Bang theory?
The Big Bang theory explains the origin of the universe as a massive explosion that occurred around 13.8 billion years ago. It suggests that the universe began as a hot, dense state and has been expanding ever since, leading to the formation of galaxies, stars, and planets.
How does quantum theory influence cosmology?
Quantum theory suggests that reality is shaped by observation, with particles existing in a pre-defined state until observed. In cosmology, this concept is applied to the early stages of the universe, proposing that the laws of physics simplify and merge as we trace back to the Big Bang, potentially erasing the distinction between time and space.
What is the multiverse hypothesis?
The multiverse hypothesis suggests the existence of multiple universes with varying compositions and laws of physics. This challenges the idea of a single Big Bang origin and raises questions about the predictability and testability of observable phenomena in cosmological theories.
How did Stephen Hawking contribute to cosmology?
Stephen Hawking made significant contributions to cosmology by bridging mathematics with Darwin's evolutionary insights. He emphasized the universe's biophilic nature and advocated for understanding it from an observer's perspective, shifting towards a worldview that integrates science with humanity.
What is the Center Of Theoretical Cosmology in Cambridge?
The Center Of Theoretical Cosmology in Cambridge focuses on developing mathematically consistent and testable universe theories. It utilizes visual tools like circles and discs to represent the universe's history, aiming to provide insights into the evolution and structure of the cosmos.
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Summary
00:00
"Universe's Origins: Big Bang Theory Evolution"
- Stephen Hawking invited the speaker for a job interview 25 years ago, communicating through a computer voice due to losing his own voice.
- Hawking was a physicist guided by profound questions about the universe's origins and humanity's place within it.
- The James Webb Space Telescope, launched on Christmas day, observes cosmic clouds where stars and planets form, containing the building blocks of life.
- The habitability of the universe traces back 13 billion years to cosmic evolution, with factors like dark matter, particle forces, and spatial dimensions enabling life.
- Scientists, including Anaximander and Newton, discovered laws of nature governed by mathematics, leading to predictions like Neptune's discovery.
- Georges Lemaître's work with Einstein's theory revealed an expanding universe, culminating in the concept of the Big Bang as the origin of space and time.
- Lemaître's calculations depicted multiple universes, with one "hesitating universe" potentially supporting life, hinting at the universe's habitability.
- Lemaître's groundbreaking theory of the expanding universe was initially met with skepticism by Einstein until it gained recognition through the Royal Astronomical Society.
- Correspondence between Lemaître, Eddington, and de Sitter led to the dissemination of the Big Bang theory globally, solidifying its place in scientific discourse.
- The Big Bang theory required further testing and observation to establish its validity, ultimately becoming a cornerstone of modern cosmology.
17:52
"Universe's Evolution: From Hot Fireball to Big Bang"
- The universe was once considered a hot fireball, but with the expansion over 13 billion years, it has cooled down, emitting radio waves that show slight temperature differences.
- Mapping the sky has revealed the afterglow of the Big Bang, indicating regions where dark matter acted, leading to the formation of stars and planets.
- The concept of a multiverse emerged in the late 1990s, suggesting multiple universes with varying compositions and laws of physics, challenging the idea of a single Big Bang origin.
- Stephen Hawking raised concerns about the multiverse hypothesis, highlighting the ambiguity it introduces in predicting observable phenomena, rendering cosmological theories untestable.
- Hawking proposed a shift in perspective, moving away from an external view of the universe to an internal one, inspired by quantum theory's interactive observation process.
- Quantum theory suggests that reality is shaped by observation, with particles existing in a pre-defined state until observed, leading to a cosmic variant where observation carves out the universe's history.
- Hawking and the speaker applied quantum thinking to the universe's early stages, suggesting that the laws of physics simplify and merge as we trace back to the Big Bang, potentially leading to the disappearance of the distinction between time and space.
- Their theory proposes a continuous simplification process that ultimately erases the laws of physics into the Big Bang, differing from the multiverse or a single theory of everything.
- The speaker's book title, "On the Origin of Time," draws parallels to Darwin's "Origin of Species," suggesting a Darwinian nature to the universe's early stages, influenced by quantum randomness and selection through observation.
- The proposed model envisions a universe where time becomes imaginary, causing causality and real-time to vanish, ultimately leading to the laws of physics disappearing into the Big Bang.
36:41
Evolutionary Physics: Bridging Laws and Theories
- Darwin's Tree of Life sketch, made after his return from the Galapagos Islands, depicts the branching Tree of Species, while Lemaître's 1936 sketch illustrates a habitable universe, aiming to merge the evolutionary concepts of biology and physics.
- The theory aims to eliminate the distinction between the laws of physics and biology, viewing them as part of one evolutionary process, akin to the origin of life where the laws of biology vanish.
- Stephen Hawking's evolution from seeking the ultimate theory to emphasizing the evolutionary nature of physics aligns with Lemaître's approach, focusing on combining the two disciplines.
- The Center Of Theoretical Cosmology in Cambridge aims to develop mathematically consistent and testable universe theories, utilizing visual tools like circles and discs to represent the universe's history.
- The holographic quantum theory, based on holography, presents the universe's history on a disc's boundary, with time and gravity emerging as key features, leading to a fundamental limit where time evaporates.
- Gravitational waves, potentially holding clues to the universe's earliest phase, are crucial for unlocking the Big Bang's mysteries, aiming to find evidence of the universe's origins.
- Stephen Hawking's legacy lies in bridging mathematics with Darwin's evolutionary insights, emphasizing the universe's biophilic nature and the need to understand it from an observer's perspective.
- Hawking's acceptance of the finitude of human understanding and the continuous pursuit of discovery, as opposed to seeking a final answer, reflects a shift towards a worldview that integrates science with humanity, aligning with philosopher Hannah Arendt's concerns about science's disconnect from the human condition.
