From: mk_thisisit
Current observations of the universe, particularly those made with new telescopes, show less agreement with existing theories than previously seen in the history of science [00:00:00], [00:04:16]. This represents a “breakthrough moment” in physics, indicating that “something is happening” [00:00:10], [00:04:12], [00:04:35]. The discrepancy between theoretical predictions and experimental results is unprecedented [00:05:18].
Observed Discrepancies
Astronomical observations reveal phenomena that challenge existing cosmological models:
- Detection of objects that “should not exist” according to current theories [00:04:23].
- Stars whose apparent lifespans exceed the age of the universe [00:04:28].
- Objects observed to be three times larger than predicted [00:04:30].
The Problem of Dark Energy
One of the most significant discrepancies concerns the cosmological constant, a parameter related to dark energy.
- Experimental measurements suggest the cosmological constant should be approximately 10^-40 [00:04:50].
- However, theoretical estimates based on current physics yield a value of 10^80 [00:05:06].
- This means the theoretical result is 10^120 times greater than the experimental result, an “unprecedented” level of disagreement in the history of science [00:05:08], [00:05:18], [00:05:52].
- This profound disagreement suggests that our current understanding of physics, especially at cosmic scales, may be incomplete [00:04:04], [00:05:26].
The Mystery of Dark Matter
Dark matter is another significant mystery in the universe, representing an unknown component that physicists can only infer by subtracting what they know from what they don’t [00:15:21], [00:15:36]. While its existence is inferred, its nature remains unknown [00:15:41].
Rethinking Fundamental Concepts
The observed discrepancies have led to a re-evaluation of fundamental concepts in physics, including arithmetic and measurement.
A New Arithmetic of the Universe
The idea of a “new arithmetic of the universe” is proposed [00:01:09]. This concept stems from observations like the addition of speeds:
- While 1 + 1 = 2 is indisputable in everyday arithmetic [00:01:22], adding the speed of light to the speed of light results in only one speed of light, not two [00:01:31].
- This suggests that what humans perceive as “adding” with a pencil and paper is a physical process, and for large speeds, these speeds “stop adding simply” [00:01:45], [00:02:10]. Nature’s understanding of “adding speeds” differs from human understanding [00:02:19].
- This raises questions about whether other physical quantities like distance and time also behave differently at extreme scales [00:02:43], [00:02:49]. For example, adding the number of hydrogen atoms in the universe to itself might not simply double the number [00:03:22].
Scale-Dependent Physics
It appears there is a different physics governing the micro world than the meso (human) world, and yet another for the cosmic scale [00:02:27], [00:03:53], [00:04:04]. This implies that physical quantities might satisfy different arithmetic properties (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) depending on the scale of the numbers involved [00:03:00].
Alternative Explanations for Dark Energy
One proposed alternative to the existence of dark energy involves modifying the arithmetic of time [00:00:43], [00:15:50].
- By modifying the arithmetic of time in a specific way, the need for dark energy becomes unnecessary, and the model matches experimental results for the expansion of the universe [00:16:29], [00:16:42], [00:20:05].
- This means that for very long durations, such as billions of years, the rule for adding time might change, similar to how speeds behave differently at very high velocities [00:16:55], [00:17:24]. The corrections might be minuscule at small scales but accumulate over vast periods [00:09:07], [00:17:37].
- In this specific model, space maintains ordinary arithmetic and is flat, while only time’s arithmetic is modified [00:19:19], [00:19:38].
The Relativization of Arithmetic
The possibility of a “principle of relativization of arithmetic” is considered, where arithmetic, like time, could be relative and depend on the context or “group” being discussed [00:11:54]. This suggests that the arithmetic for speed, time, or other quantities might be different [00:12:08].
One perspective is that this is not about changing arithmetic but rather changing the concept of “distance” [0:12:41]. In this view, numbers used for arithmetic (e.g., adding weights) and numbers used for measuring distances (e.g., meters) might not necessarily be the “same numbers” [00:13:28]. These two structures can be separated, leading to the idea of an “ideal object for doing arithmetic” and an “ideal object for measuring” [00:20:49], [00:21:05].
Future Directions
These ongoing discrepancies and proposed solutions highlight a crucial point in fundamental questions in physics and the universe. The search for deeper understanding could involve exploring a “sub-quantum level” beyond what quantum physics currently describes [00:23:06]. There is no definitive proof that quantum physics is the “ultimate theoretical bottom” [00:23:21], and exploration of deeper levels may be necessary for advancements, such as understanding consciousness [00:23:38], [00:24:08].