The Long and the Short

Cosmologists and theoretical physicists seem to be struggling a bit to make progress in their fields. Cosmologists don't seem to be able to fit the various theories as to the origin of the universe to the equations describing the physics of the universe as far as it is known; the Standard Model, whatever that is. On offer is: creation from nothing, or continuous creation. A sudden rapid expansion followed by steady expansion. A finite universe. An infinite universe. (There may be others) Without mentioning god, there has even been a suggestion that some intelligent entity may need to be postulated to explain the origin. It seems to me though that any such being still needs to be explained.

In any case I think it's very hard to visualise infinity, and just as hard to visualise a beginning and end with nothing on either side.

Theoretical physicists are searching hard for the Higgs Boson, an elusive elementary particle that, if it exists, apparently will complete the explanation of matter at the most fundamental level, as it provides mass to otherwise massless particles. Though there seem to have been tantalising hints of it, scientists are not sure if what they are seeing is the imprint of the Higgs, or if it will do as they hope if they do find it. Once again a question of satisfying equations, if my limited understanding is correct.

It may be that there are things we shall never know, in terms of  a complete explanation of the largest and smallest aspects of our universe. Considering the age of the universe and the minute proportion of it that the human race will exist, it seems to me not surprising that we cannot know how it began or will end. Any explanation is an inference from observable data, and, however sound, cannot be verified directly. In the sub-microscopic area, explanations are also derived indirectly from the results of particles colliding at high speeds.

The philosopher Colin McGuinn considers that consciousness may be beyond our capacity to understand, in terms of how it is brought about by inanimate cells. He has been labelled a Mysterian. Perhaps that title will be applied to scientists in those other fields at the edge of knowledge.