There are treats for the mind, not just the eyes, in the magnificence of our universe.
To Ponder or to Wonder?
Have you ever spent time wondering the nature of the universe? Have you ever stared at some of nature's wonders and thought about their origins? Many people want to learn more about the world and how we fit into it, but we are put off by the technical language used in physics textbooks. In order to examine some of the most challenging and fascinating subjects in the world, physicist Brian Greene set out to create a user-friendly guide because he believed that no one should be prevented from exploring the truths about the universe.
In his latest book, "Until the End of Time: Mind, Matter, and Our Search for Meaning in an Evolving Universe," renowned physicist Brian Greene takes readers on a journey through the cosmos as he explores the deepest questions of existence. By diving into the complexities of the universe, Greene seeks to unravel the mysteries of human consciousness and our search for meaning in a world that is constantly evolving. Additionally, you'll discover how the self has evolved, free will, and our interactions with language, religion, and the craft of storytelling.
And you’re in for a surprise! Find out why your cat shares surprising similarities with a black hole, revealing a commonality that extends throughout the universe.
All that exists in the cosmos is made up of the same particles - they’re just arranged differently. They either undergo evolution to gain power and complexity, or come to an end through entropy.
Dive in to find out the start of the universe, its end, and everything in between!
Summary
This universe is filled with a lot of mysteries and wonders. Many of us humans, intrigued by these mysteries, have spent their whole lives looking for the answers. In this quest to get to know everything, humans have learned amazing truths about the universe. Our world is continuously evolving but everything from the start to the end of the universe will be controlled by the same forces - evolution, the mastermind behind creation, and entropy, the relentless architect of decay and ultimate demise.
And even though scientists are still struggling to find the truths about our existence, human resilience is the key that keeps us going. To make sure the human race survives the inevitable universal destruction through entropy, we must continue our quest for getting answers! Because this quest is not just a mere human trait; it's a superpower that fueled our species' triumph. And if universal death is our ultimate reality, we must learn to appreciate and enjoy life.
Are you saying Entropy made my sandwich?
Nobody wants to steal credit from you. But you’re not getting all of it either.Have you ever heard about “Entropy”? Well, if you are not a science student, you might have not come across this term yet. Entropy is the principle of decay and chaos that shapes our universe. This process resembles one of life’s unavoidable aspects, death. It teaches us to appreciate the transitory moments that this life has to offer. Everything has an end, every life ends. From...
What's supposed to Attract … Is Repelling?
You had one job gravity. One job.Gravity, despite its seeming simplicity, extends beyond basic attraction between two masses. Albert Einstein proposed the concept of repelling gravity. Unlike normal gravity's familiar pull force, repelling gravity pushes outward rather than inward. This concept is important in understanding our origins.Consider a speck-sized space fragment packed with something not fully understood - the unknown ‘dark energy’. Now, when this energy is compressed together, like in Earth and other planets, it causes gravity that pulls...
The Phoenix we call Stars
The Phoenix is a mythological creature that rises from its own ashes and lives a life of immortality, illuminating and giving to the space around it. A star is essentially a phoenix, but more. By more I mean it's real. In just eight and a half minutes after the Big Bang, cosmic foundations, the primordial atoms from which everything comes, manifested incredibly quickly. Due to optimum temperature, these building blocks formed so quickly after the big bang (give it 2 more...
Free Will - Free is silent
Consciousness is a very abstract term. It's very hard to wrap your head around it and what it exactly means. For this reason, scientists have directed their attention elsewhere.And that is why the following departs beyond biological life and dives into hypotheses concerning the emergence of awareness within life.The crux is the idea that life has gained consciousness, following natural principles rather than arising from free will.Humans, like all entities, are made up of particles that follow natural rules. Interactions...
The voice in your head reading this took time to develop
I think the title is pretty self-explanatory.Your conversations are almost always around the topics that are close to your heart. Maybe your work, sports, or literally anything that you’re associated with. But don't forget about one important aspect: gossip. Surprisingly, more than 60% of our talks revolve around gossip. Rather than feeling humiliated, acknowledge that our proclivity for words, especially gossip, has provided us evolutionary advantage.The core idea is that humans not only evolved language but also narrative, which is...
Religion - Easing our fears
Green says that despite its discussion of gloomy subjects such as death and punishment, religion provides a source of comfort for many. What is its most important offering? Purpose.As intellect develops, the impulse to comprehend one's surroundings turns into a search for meaning. In the midst of tool-making and agriculture, early humans faced a timeless conundrum: What is the significance of it all?Humans are predisposed to recognize patterns and decode occurrences. They needed a means to understand events like lightning...
Art, and the Art of Our Evolution
We never stopped evolving and most definitely never will. But what’s changed is we added creativity somewhere along the way.Humans have often relied on stories to help them understand the world and drive technological breakthroughs that improve their chances of survival. A creative drive to interact with one's surroundings emerged as well, encouraging art appreciation and creativity.However, a question remains: Why the creative impulse? What was the need for its creation? How did it originate? And why devote efforts to...
In We Go: How Everything will end up in a black hole
You had plans to go somewhere? Well, change of plans.Infinity, the concept of limitless existence, fascinates people from all cultures. However, nothing lasts forever. Everything on Earth, including ourselves and our families, is subject to disintegration as a result of entropy's structural erosion. Entropy disorganizes elements while evolution arranges them. However, these forces do not always align. There is no pre-known period when entropy begins to cause something to disintegrate. Theoretically, as long as a low-entropy system continues to expel...
Round 2: Will life re-emerge?
Einstein's sophisticated theory of relativity investigates concepts such as black holes, but we won't go into detail here. His hypothesis basically states that items consumed by black holes are lost, their energy adding to the black hole’s entropy. The fate of black holes after they swallow all particles and perhaps develop huge power remains unknown.Stephen Hawking discovered that black holes produce radiation as they shrink and become hotter. All known black holes are now expanding, but when the temperature of...
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About the Author
Brian Greene received his undergraduate degree from Harvard University and his doctorate from Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes scholar. He is a professor of physics and mathematics at Columbia University and lives in New York City.
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