Harumi

You seem very certain of this. Isn't it still a theory though? So it's not 100% confirmed yet.

I recall a website stating that certain physics theories are working on the idea of whether or not the universe could indeed be created out of nothing. I don't know if it's a legitimate website or not though. But it was a philosophy website, and well, I don't know how much authority philosophy has on quantum physics.

I'll just stick to my calc instead.

Kimpatsu

There you go, saying "just a theory", which is an oxymoron. You could have said "just a hypothesis", but the quantum singularity is a theory because it fits the facts as we know them, and has yet to be falsified. It seems our best bet at present.
Unless you're really arguing that "god did it"?

Harumi

Kimpatsu,

I'm an atheist. Perhaps you needed to be reminded of that, before you start on with your sarcasm.

I was merely wondering if that idea was accepted by the scientific community at large.

As a theory, by definition, isn't 100% positive, and there are probably opposing theories as well, I was merely questioning why you're so certain this theory has got all the answers.

Kimpatsu

I wasn't being sarcastic, O Beautiful Spring; it started out by trying to be laconic towards our first cause-espousing theists.
Of all the available theories, the quantum singularity one is the most likely. Not all theories are equal, after all.

pz

In science, nothing is accepted as 100% positive. You're using the colloquial meaning of "theory" as an unconfirmed guess. Scientists use "theory" in a different way, as a powerful explanation that adequately explains and integrates a large body of observations with sufficient power to generate new hypotheses.

Kimpatsu

I thought Harumaki (sic) knew this.

ieyeasu

Ah, basic physics.

In any closed system, ie, the universe, E0 =EF .

That is, conservation of energy. All the energy that exists today has always existed, and will always exist. Thus, while stars and such may not have existed, the energy which composes them always has, and merely changed form and position to become stars. The same applies to all things--even your brain.

So, there is no first cause. There is only eternal energy. This energy recombines due to gravity and explodes every once and a while--a "big bang" to create what we consider a new universe. Ad naseum.

A much bigger "eternity" than most theists are willing to accept.

Kimpatsu

Absolutely, Tokugawa, absolutely.

ieyeasu

Wow. You're the first person in 5 plus years of this screen name who got that.

Figures, you're from Japan.

Kimpatsu

I'm not from Japan, I live in Japan.
I'm from London. Notice my handle?