Could we destroy the universe?

[treva00023]

Could the universe be destroyed by the actions of mankind (or other intelligent species).<br />and how, if possible, would it be done..<br />

 

[drwayne]

By asking the right question (making the right measurement), it might be possible to get the universal wave function to collapse into an eigenstate not recognizible as the current universe.<br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[treva00023]

Is there a name given to an event that destroys the universe, Like Armageddon means to destroy the world?...

 

[vogon13]

Funny you should ask.<br /><br /><br />Bwaah, hahhahahah!!!!!!<br /><br /><br />A universe by<br /><br />and gone, it t'was rent apart<br /><br />by vogon haiku.<br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#ff0000"><strong>TPTB went to Dallas and all I got was Plucked !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#339966"><strong>So many people, so few recipes !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Let's clean up this stinkhole !!</strong></font> </p> </div>

 

[drwayne]

There are words in a variety of dialects:<br /><br />oops<br /><br />oh&%$#@!sky<br /><br />geewillywonkers<br /><br />But the most well known is<br /><br />ohhhhhhhhfffffuuuuuuuuuuddddddggggeee.<br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[drwayne]

Seriously, I seem to recall the term<br /><br />Ragnarok<br /><br />floating around in this area...<br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[vogon13]

The Tralfamadoreans have had some experience with this.<br /><br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#ff0000"><strong>TPTB went to Dallas and all I got was Plucked !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#339966"><strong>So many people, so few recipes !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Let's clean up this stinkhole !!</strong></font> </p> </div>

 

[pale_blue_dave]

Sagan said something to the effect of: "To make an apple pie from scratch, one must first create the universe." Using this statement, one could deduce the opposite. Not exactly on topic, but close.

 

[emperor_of_localgroup]

People may laugh at you or at this question, but it is an interesting thought though. <br /><br />My guess is it is possible only when a super intellegent species is able to physically manipulate the planets and their suns, and thereby destroy the balance of gravitational stability, causing a chain reaction of collisions in a galaxy. <br /><br />But again, the destruction of the entire universe, even destruction of a galaxy, in this manner, will take such a long time even the starting species will be extinct by then. <br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="2" color="#ff0000"><strong>Earth is Boring</strong></font> </div>

 

[5stone10]

<font color="yellow">The Tralfamadoreans ...</font><br /><br /><br />Right - except I think they were only able to blow up space, they did not destroy time.

 

[vogon13]

And we both have the tense wrong. The Tralfamadoreans <i>will</i> destroy the universe someday while testing a new space ship fuel.<br /><br />The moment is structured that way.<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#ff0000"><strong>TPTB went to Dallas and all I got was Plucked !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#339966"><strong>So many people, so few recipes !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Let's clean up this stinkhole !!</strong></font> </p> </div>

 

[newtonian]

Treva000223 - How would you define destruction in this question?<br /><br />Heat death? Conversion to entirely energy as at the origin of our universe? Violation of the law of conservation of matter and energy?<br /><br />Or destruction in some other way or form?<br /><br />A very thought provoking question, btw!<br /><br />God could destroy our universe, but he won't.<br /><br />If you believe Bible prophecy is accurate, as I do, then mankind will live forever on a paradise earth (Psalms 37:29; etc.). <br /><br />SPECULATION: Mankind may populate our entire universe, or at leasts myriads of earthlike planets, in approximately a googol (=10^100) years.<br /><br />However, even as we learn forever and as our abiliies increase forever so that we may be able to do something like what you suggest - again we would not.<br /><br />Good people do not do things just because they can do things, they do things for good reasons and noble purposes out of love.<br /><br />I, for one of many, love this earth and this universe and try to preserve these beloved gifts from God. <br /><br />That's one of the reasons I like astronomy.

 

[jatslo]

Speculation ---> If the universe exists because of an imbalance, then correcting this imbalance will lead to equilibrium, or no universe. I think the universe is doing one of two things; it is expanding; it is contracting. In any case, we are sure to teeter totter or flip flop in the other direction for all infinity, if there is an imbalance between our universe and the anti-universe. <--- Speculation

 

[vogon13]

When you look at the universe at the 'right' time scale, lets say 10^1000 years, its all a blip subsummed by Heisenbergs uncertainty principle.<br /><br />Nothing, absolutely nothing matters or is of any consequence at all in a time scale that potentially approaches infinity. But, in an infinite span of time, look at what <i>is</i> possible at our scale of existense.<br /><br />Ponder that.<br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br /><br />{I should have taken notes during that Voltone lecture......}<br /><br /><br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#ff0000"><strong>TPTB went to Dallas and all I got was Plucked !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#339966"><strong>So many people, so few recipes !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Let's clean up this stinkhole !!</strong></font> </p> </div>

 

[newtonian]

vogon13 - Did you realize that there is more than one type, or order, of infinity?<br /><br />Yes, I do enjoy pondering on eternal existence and learning forever.<br /><br />But things still matter at smal time scales!<br /><br />Consider the rate of expansion of our universe - which has been close ot omega=1, that critical point between eternal expansion and eventual collapse.<br /><br />Had the universe expanded at the big bang just a little slower (I think about 10^-20 percent less per tiny unit of time) our universe would have collapsed by now and no life as we know it would exist in our universe.<br /><br />Had the universe expanded by that tiny percent faster per tiny unit of time, no stars would have formed and again no life as we know it would exist in our universe - though there would be no question about the eternal expansion of our universe.<br /><br />So something very small, a very tiny adjustment in expansion rate, means oh so much for the eternal future of our universe!<br /><br />I am not disagreeing with you point - I get your point - like an argument with my wife, provided we make up (which we always do because we love one another) will be so insignificant at 10^1000 years from now!<br /><br />I'm just thinking on a different example.<br /><br />And, yes, fascinating pondering!!!!

 

[jatslo]

Well, with respect to time, if I were to step off and fall back, I will watch the universe accelerate to its doom, which may be why the universe is accelerating.<br /><br />...Because we are slowing down...um... well, chew on that for a second.<br /><br />

 

[vogon13]

IIRC, adherents to the faith known as Bokononism utter "I will now destroy the universe" as they commit suicide.<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#ff0000"><strong>TPTB went to Dallas and all I got was Plucked !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#339966"><strong>So many people, so few recipes !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Let's clean up this stinkhole !!</strong></font> </p> </div>

 

[jatslo]

Albert Einstein seems to think that if we tapped into infinite energy, things could get very bad indeed. Also, I heard that a nuclear core meltdown that reached the Earth's core would be very bad too. However, both events would likely be localized.

 

[emperor_of_localgroup]

If blackholes are really condensed atoms, it's not totally ridiculous to think oneday the humans will be able to create artificial blackholes. If one such blackhole goes out of control, the disaster can spill over our solar system.<br /><br />Just a futuristic point of view. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="2" color="#ff0000"><strong>Earth is Boring</strong></font> </div>

 

[newtonian]

stevehw33 - Hmmm. I guess we are in agreement on thread theme. <br /><br />Certainly, the laws and properties of the universe are far beyond human ability to effect - it would take one of immensely higher power to either fine tune these laws and properties (as in God) or to destroy such fine tuning.<br /><br />How much energy was actually fine tuned at the creation (aka big bang) illustrates this and is one reason I am trying to determine the value of e in e=mc^2 at the origin of our universe.<br /><br />It would have been at the origin of our universe, not now, that a slight change in the mathematical ratios that exist between the four forces of physics, as well as a slight change in the fine tuned rate of expansion, that would have made our universe have propeties that would not allow stars to exist, let alone life to exist!<br /><br />I also agree we could not actually destroy the planet earth. <br /><br />However, man is ruining this earth, fulfilling the first part of the prophecy in Revelation 11:18 which states that our Creator will bring to ruin those ruining the earth.