Across several centuries of recent time, scientists and mathematicians have discovered many facts about what our Universe is, how it works and even how it must have begun.
Using mathematical deduction and scientific experiments, physicists have projected back in time to theorize an event that has come to be known as the Big Bang.
In a recent lecture at Cambridge University, professor David Tong stretches the knowledge base of his listeners to a new level of understanding about that Big Bang beginning.
Through the scope of scientific analysis, scientists and mathematicians have gathered known data sufficiently to begin comprehending the conditions that preceded this present world.
In his lecture, David Tong presents an equation that he calls the Theory of Everything. The long string of math he displays is a combination of work done primarily by Albert Einstein, James Clerk Maxwell, Paul Dirac and Peter Higgs.
I find this fascinating, even though I can only begin to comprehend its meaning. But it must be something very important because Dr. Tong explains:
“This equation correctly predicts the result of every single experiment we have done in science.”
Wow!
Dr. Tong goes on to explain that mathematics is essential for analyzing and explaining the expanding universe. But it only takes us so far.
Some attributes of the Universe are beyond mathematical description. The interaction of quantum vacuum fluctuations after the Big Bang is beyond mathematics, as nearly as the searchers can figure so far. A mysterious “flickering” of the great post-Bang fireball is a feature of the expanding universe that still causes physicists to scratch their heads.
In looking for patterns that give hint of the structure beneath . . . something deeper than just the elements, David Tong expresses a sudden uncharacteristic befuddlement:
“Maybe there’s not three forces in the universe, maybe just one force; the idea of grand unification. . . One that appears to be Three.”
. . . which reminded me of a snippet of ancient Scripture that I discovered, Providentially, somewhere along my life journey:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him . . . in Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, but the darkness comprehended it not.”
But we do keep trying to explain it. That’s what humans do. And we do appreciate those teachers, such as David Tong, who continue to enlighten us about the mysterious workings of the Universe.
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