How dark is the universe? Optically – for visible light. Far away from star light and reflected dust. Here’s an interesting perspective on electromagnetic (EM) cosmic energy density – just for optical wavelengths. And without any clarification of fuzzy bounds for a galaxy’s reach. The entire electromagnetic spectrum is another story. • Live Science >… Continue reading How dark is the universe – optically?
Thinking of the latest announcements for Nobel prizes: physics, chemistry, peace … Can the mind-boggling, awe-inspiring scale of the universe improve the odds of our collective survival? An expanding overview effect? “I believe our future depends powerfully on how well we understand this Cosmos in which we float like a mote of dust in the… Continue reading Island universe RIP – impact of awe-inspiring scales?
[“What’s changed in the last 50 years” series] As noted in my January 17, 2019, post “Cosmological fact and fiction,” the Big Bang theory poses questions on “whether terms like ‘origin’ or ‘creation’ even apply; and the limits of language to even discuss the topic.” [1] So, perhaps a rethink was overdue on the topic,… Continue reading RIP ‘Big Bang’ singularity?
You’ve probably heard the saying, “We will sell no wine before its time.” While most of us rarely think about the topic when buying retail wines, the more adventurous might go for age-worthy bottles – immature wines which can taste quite better at their peak. How long do you wait? Is there a mathematical model for… Continue reading Wine before time itself – stars older than the universe?
So, on the 10^n scale, today Space.com posed the interesting question “What Is the Biggest Thing in the Universe?” Scientists have created the first map of a colossal supercluster of galaxies known as Laniakea, the home of Earth’s Milky Way galaxy and many other. This computer simulation, a still from a Nature journal video, depicts… Continue reading Biggest thing in the universe?
Wiki’s definition of astrophysics is comprehensive. Contemporary astrophysics often is associated with Big Science programs involving both observational and theoretical work by large, interdisciplinary teams. Astrophysics is the branch of astronomy that employs the principles of physics and chemistry “to ascertain the nature of the heavenly bodies, rather than their positions or motions in space.”… Continue reading Astrophysics is what?
Imagine doing a survey where you ask people “How old is the universe?” – as a multiple choice question: 1,000’s of years 100,000’s of years Millions of years Billions of years Other _______________ What would you expect as a result? Quite a mix? Well, among scientists this question is essentially settled, as indicated in some… Continue reading Age of universe — implications?
As I continue to ponder the spooky character of quantum physics (the 10^-n reality), this May 17, 2017, Space.com article addresses a question at the other end of the cosmic scale (the 10^n reality): How Many Stars Are In The Universe? So how do astronomers figure out how many stars are in the universe? The first sticky part is trying to… Continue reading How many stars?
We’re all familiar with the saying, “which came first, the chicken or the egg?” So, I have a similar problem with modern cosmology: which came first, fields or particles? After the Big Bang … Well, the answer is sort of neither. There was a long evolutionary path from earlier organisms to creatures that laid eggs… Continue reading BB: Chicken or egg redux
