INFINITY. Does the word make any sense to you? Just close your eyes for a moment and fathom this – in a gigantic black expanse of absolute nothingness which we call the universe, there float some few hundred billion galaxies, with vast intergalactic spaces thrown in between.
And this is just one universe we are talking about yet, as interpreted by the images received using Hubble’s space telescope. In terms of distance, the farthest galaxies are about 13 billion light years away, and our universe is about 156 billion light years across, and still expanding. Now, if we were to take into account the fourth dimension of time in addition to the three dimensions of space, the space-time continuum as interpreted by Einstein in his ‘Special Theory of Relativity’ throws up the possibility of the presence of innumerable other universes, rather parallel universes, the presence of which we are yet to perceive(and even imagine) in terms of the physical parameters available to us today. Come to think of it, even with the most powerful radiotelescopes, the fact is we do not still know how far our boundaries are, if our universe has an *edge, *and more importantly, what lies beyond! Humbling thought indeed.
And all of this infinity erupted from a dot smaller than a full stop! Yes, according to the Big Bang Theory, the primordial universe was made up of three components – space, time and energy. About 14 billion years ago, space, time and energy somehow co-existed in a continuum(still way beyond our comprehension), the temperature of which was roughly 1000 0000000000 0000000000 0000000000 (33 zeroes after 1) degrees. Some unknown event probably triggered a disruption of the time-space warp, resulting in conversion of a part of the energy into matter, which started stretching out into the limitless vacuum. The initial form of matter was a labile mixture of plasma and subatomic particles like mesons, quarks, gluon, leptons and neutrinos, later more substantial particles came into existence, seeding galaxies and other cosmic components as the temperature cooled significantly. Scientists say that the Big Bang is not an explosion of matter moving outward to fill an empty universe. Instead, space itself expands with time everywhere and increases the physical distance between two comoving points. Awesome, isn’t it? With time, stars and planetary systems formed, including our earth. Life somehow wriggled into existence. Divine intervention? Well, that’s not all. Someone then said two membranes collided and shattered, thus forming the galaxies. This is the Branes Theory, not for the harebrained of course! So, there are many unanswered questions.
Does life exist anywhere else in this universe? If yes, then in what form? Are they small and slimy, or large and slimy? Are they gigantic? Half machines?
Are they intelligent(write reviews / diaries / comments etc)? Do they wear clothes? Give and accept virtual gifts? Rate photos?
Is there a way we may contact them? Or they contact us?
What is dark matter? And what is dark energy? How does it influence the motion of the stars? Is Dark energy same as God? Or perhaps the devil?
Is time travel possible? Think of the commercial connotations. Time tourism! Imagine the advertisements –
*Cox & Kinks Time Tourism Presents Once in A Lifetime Offer!
The Jagged Jurassic: 3 Nights & 4 Days among the dinosaurs for$ 3000; all expenses(including treatment for Tyrannosaurus rex bite) paid.
The Medieval Marauders: 6 N & 7 D stay among the Vikings for$ 10000. Includes cover for accidental loss of life.
Back to the Future: Join the celebrations of the New Year 2500 for$ 50000. *(There will be touts who will ask for a bribe of$ 50000, in exchange for a bungled return plan, which allows you to stay back in the future indefinitely)
Are there any parallel universes? Made of antimatter? A parallel earth maybe, with a parallel India and a parallel Mouthshut.com? Parallel IDs too perhaps! How would an antimatter ID behave? E.g. anti-Chintu25! The possibilities are as interesting as they are intriguing.
Where does our universe begin and where does it end? Is it finite or infinite? Is it flat, globular or curved? What lies beyond? If the observable universe is finite, like the space occupied by a football field is finite, then there must be a wall or something up there, holding it all together. Right?
Wrong. Its all a warp. The universe neither begins anywhere, nor does it end anywhere. Yet it’s expanding like a balloon. It it going to burst someday? A bigger bang perhaps?
Think….and come up with your own conclusions.
Dedicated to the memory of Arthur C. Clarke, who died in Sri Lanka on 19 March 2008, only a few days after he had reviewed the final manuscript of his latest work, The Last Theorem.
Thanks for reading my stuff.
*Sudipto