One of the best-kept secrets of science--a veritable skeleton in the science closet--is the fact that physicists have lost their grip on reality. Quantum theory is the most comprehensive and accurate theory known to man, describing nature at all scales from quark to quasar and forming the foundation for numerous technologies including lasers, semiconductors and nuclear power. But the price physicists have paid for this powerful theory is the loss of an overall picture of how the world works. "Who could have imagined", Einstein once remarked about this reality crisis in physics, "that we would come to know so much yet understand so little?" (Credit: Internet Research).
Quantum mechanics, also known as quantum physics or quantum theory, is a branch of physics providing a mathematical description of the dual particle like and wave like behavior and interaction of matter and energy. (Credit: Wikipedia).
The double-slit experiment consists of letting light diffract through two slits in a box producing patterns on a monitor, plate or piece of film. When the light hits the film, it leaves a spons, so we can atually see where distinct photons hit the back of the box. One can view the image and see the basic concept.
Photo Credit: Internet Image
I watched the Science Channel - What is Reality? Some interesting concepts came out of this show by top scientists in their field:
1. One scientist did an experiment with light. Shooting light (photon) from a single source into a card. The card has 2 slits. After this single beam of light hits the card, exits the slits the light separates into several beams with each beam having hatch marks on it (the interference pattern). When the researcher put a detector at each slit the interference pattern disappears. When a photon is not being observed it acts like a wave. But when detecors are placed at each photon the wave function collapses and it acts as a single particle. The interesting question here is how to particles know when they are being observed?
2. Another scientist has developed a sophisticated computer that runs 1's and 0's together. Our typical computer runs 1's or 0's. This sophisticated computer will help analyze the functions of reality in a new and exciting way.
3. Other researchers are re-thinking the Big Bang Theory (some who originally developed the concept). One concern is how what we see today come from nothing to what we see today. Once theory under consideration is our universe will collapse and then expand into a new universe. The theory is this happened before and will happen again. However, to me it still does not answer where it all began. Unless of course you believe in an intelligent designer who created it before time and space as we know it.It will be interesting to hear these new ideas as they develop.
4. And yet another researcher is claiming everything in the universe can be mathematically calculated. Even reality. I have always felt that God is a mathematician. This supports my own personal theory, so of course I like it. I found an abstract by Jerry Don Bauer (not the reseacher from the Science Channel) who articulates in his paper: Discovering a God of Energy through Science and Math. Here is a link if you are interested in his ideas. http://www.ozarkfresh.com/quantummechanicsinmetaphysics.html
As I continue my to quench my thirst for scientific discovery I find my sense of God becomes stronger and stronger. Opposite to some who will state that Christians are intellectually inferior beings who rely on an unknown God to guide them through this life, requiring faith. One thing I like about the shows I am watching is this sense that the potential for an intellectual intelligence may factor into the scientific realm. Yes, sometimes they even use the word God. One researcher said it this way, "I will look at every concept using scientific methods to gain knowledge". Yes, I think there was a time when God was looked at by the scientific community as a fairy tale. But, I think it is changing in today's scientific community. The "intellectually inferior" position used by some to support their non-belief may put them in a minority. While I think the scientific community is still split between atheist, humanist, or spiritual camps I find that most open minded scientists are willing to allow for research without condition.
All minority positions in the scientific community are met with reserve. But you have to remember evolution and the Big Bang theory were at one time minority positions. This is the natural evolution of the scientific methodology and process.
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