From an early age I was constantly motivated to seek answers in life. From reading books, to seeking advice, to meditation, to spirituality etc. Nothing helped me draw a conclusion for the meaning of life more effectively in all those years than science. I am a Computer Scientist by education, and studied biology/chemistry in college – this shaped me to be a scientifically-based critical thinker. Suffice it to mention that I live in Switzerland where CERN is based – so I get the latest information on their experiments and findings and access to their Science Gateway.
One book that shaped how I think about life and start to research further into the fields of astrophysics, physics and quantum mechanics, was A Brief History of Time by Stephen W. Hawking. I have since been reading the latest findings in physics and quantum mechanics through books, magazines and online.
- The Casimir Effect: The Casimir Effect is a physical force arising from the quantum field theory, where two uncharged, parallel plates in a vacuum experience an attractive force due to quantum fluctuations of the vacuum energy between them. This phenomenon demonstrates the tangible effects of quantum mechanics on a macroscopic scale. The Casimir Effect has been experimentally confirmed. In 1997, Steven K. Lamoreaux conducted a direct experiment measuring the Casimir force between two conducting plates, obtaining results within 5% of theoretical predictions. Subsequent experiments have replicated and refined these findings, further validating the effect.
- Quantum Fields: Quantum fields are the fundamental entities in quantum field theory (QFT), which combines classical field theory, special relativity, and quantum mechanics. They describe the quantum states of particles and fields throughout space and time, where particles are seen as excitations or quanta of these fields. In this framework, forces and interactions are mediated by exchange particles associated with quantum fields, providing a comprehensive understanding of particle physics and the fundamental forces of nature. Quantum fields have been observed and confirmed through various experiments in particle physics. The concept of quantum fields forms the basis of quantum field theory (QFT), which successfully describes the fundamental forces and particles in nature. For instance, the discovery of the Higgs boson at the Large Hadron Collider in 2012 provided experimental confirmation of the Higgs field, a type of quantum field predicted by the Standard Model of particle physics.
- Talking to a Theoretical Physicist: I contacted a world-renowned theoretical physicist in the United Kingdom about the above and whether a true vacuum can theoretically exist. The conclusion is, no. Within our universe there is no hypothesis or theory that a true vacuum can exist with absolutely nothing in it. Therefore implying that everything we observe and see through science is all there is, and even the concept of nothingness cannot exist in our universe.
I may be wrong, and science has yet to prove it, but our universe to me sounds immutable, with no true beginning and no true end.