The entropy of the universe may be 100 times worse than expected. Ron Cowen writes in Science News that recent research suggests that the universe will degrade faster physicists had previously thought:
I know nothing about physics, therefore I propose that people take alarmist, unjustified responses to this disastrous news.
Link via Gizmodo | Image: NASA
An analysis by Chas Egan of the Australian National University in Canberra and Charles Lineweaver of the University of New South Wales in Sydney indicates that the collective entropy of all the supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies is about 100 times higher than previously calculated. Because supermassive black holes are the largest contributor to cosmic entropy, the finding suggests that the entropy of the universe is also about 100 times larger than previous estimates, the researchers reported online September 23 at arXiv.org.[...]
In the case of the universe, Egan says, “we'd like to know [when and] if the entropy will eventually reach a maximum value, marking the end of all dissipative processes, including life.” Physicists have dubbed that maximum entropy “heat death.”
I know nothing about physics, therefore I propose that people take alarmist, unjustified responses to this disastrous news.
Link via Gizmodo | Image: NASA
Has the Green Movement gotten new ammo........!
Thinking about the entire universe not continuing on is a very unsettling thought!
But you know, I think this a case where the information is nice to have for science and posterity, but not worth thinking about in your average daily life. It's a matter of relevance and perspective. I mean if I even thought about everything going on in the Middle East at this very minute, I don't think I'd be a functional person. Let alone the universe coming to an end!!!
Acknowledge the information and move along, because you can't skip out on rent and tell your landlord "well, the physicists just figured out the universe might end soon." (though it is sorely tempting to try)
It just goes to show that the more you know the more you know you don't know. The rest of the story, that is.
When we know all of the story we will be very, very old. I'd say that now we are adolescents with room to grow. The act of growing being voluntary, of course.
*grin*