generalspeaking

Storming the Ramparts of the Universe

What a species we represent. Not quite countless numbers, but we're getting there, billions upon billions of us. And from among this unique life-form species there erupts on occasion blinding genius. Genius of a calibre removed from the bright intelligence of those who aspire to rise above the common grain through the sheer force of their intellect. We celebrate a history down through documented time of famous names in physics, philosophy, astronomy and the arts.

Mathematics, literature, music, sculpture, medical science, architecture; there have been seminal moments in history when brilliant theorists have taken their place in society, whose life work has never been equalled, not in their time and not beyond. They have set the parameters of cerebral excellence. Their questing, questioning minds have opened new avenues of enquiry that following generations strive to compete with, let alone surpass.

Their pioneering quest for answers to the puzzles of existence, empower us to understand, in some small part, that we represent an infinitesimally minuscule portion of a whole whose very presence is yet unknown to us. Yet they have ensured through their genius that they have left hints and directives for ongoing enquiry to their successors to carry on with their mesmerizing scientific agenda.

To understand the make-up of the universe, if not the purpose of existence. The constituents of the universe may eventually explain much yet unknown about the cosmos and our place in it, and we may, on the other hand, never reach that understanding hidden from us by nature; the creator and sum of all things. As for the purpose of our existence, that intriguing message is said to exist only on the lips of another creator.

There is the nature of science and the science of nature which invites exploration. And there is the nature of the spiritual world, and the spiritual world of humankind's devising which invites faith and confounds and defies exploration. Great minds make their journeys of discovery through the function of their great brains hypothesizing the existence of unknown elements and their chemistry.

Other minds, having inherited the concept of a godhead, responding to the undeniable need of humankind to surrender to belief in that guiding spirit, can expound and interpret, but there is no wish to probe, to prove and to experiment, let alone offer theories, for to do so is strictly forbidden. To have faith is to abandon reason. To reason is to vanquish faith.

The world has known a handful of outstanding men - and why it is that men appear to represent in whole portion such discoveries and revelations is perhaps one of those intriguing areas which invite investigation - and ultimately scorn from one-half of humanity - capable of revealing rare truths and realities. One such mind belongs to modern history, the other to historical myth.

Both resulted from the tribe that postulated and embraced monotheism, bringing the world into the embrace of the one true God. First to make his mark on the world was the Christ, a young Jewish man of rebellious conviction. His existence is taken on trust, the same kind of abandonment of intellect that clasps faith and rejects proof. The second appeared in 20th Century Germany, another Jewish man.

The religions that grew from Judaic belief also grew to disdain their origins, extending disdain to its originators, feeling compelled in the process to attempt the destruction of the people, while exalting its concepts of God and the earthly apparition that brought them to worship. The countrymen of Albert Einstein embellished anti-Semitism to a fine art, determining to succeed where others had failed.

Two Jews, one exemplifying the highest pinnacles of scientific thought and achievement, the other bringing to celebration the soul and the spirit of humankind in the guise of the single holy spirit of revelation and salvation. Today, in the 21st Century, Judaism is no better positioned to protect itself, nor is its singular country-state designed for the protection of world Jewry, than it has been throughout history.

But today, the world stands on the threshhold of new discoveries inherent in the fine understanding of the universe, its characteristics, its structure and its constituents. While purpose may always elude understanding. At this time in world scientific enquiry, a collaboration of nations and their outstanding astrophysicists, mechanical engineers and technologists bring us to the cusp of discovery.

All relating to Albert Einstein's brilliant theoretical mind's output. The Large Hadron Collider's capabilities have been put into motion, and for the next half-year scientists will live with the suspense of what the trillions of protons travelling at unimaginable speed around the 17-mile circuit of the underground tunnels might possibly reveal to further instruct and enlighten them, and by extension to some degree, us also.

Einstein's imagining of a unified theory encompassing all forces and matter; super-symmetry, may be revealed through this gigantic, inspired and world-shattering experiment. We will learn more about the mysterious dark matter and its ravenous appetite. As well as the tantalizing theory of the existence of dimensions that go beyond those we recognize and can experience in space and time.

It has been said that if such a discovery is indeed proven, that transdimensional particles exist, our ideas of the reality of length, width and height will be transformed to such a degree that our understanding of the universe will move a giant step forward.

Anticipation aside, of the experiment ultimately resulting in an understanding of the fundamental principles of the chemical constituents, the variabilities of the construction of matter, leading us to knowledge of the infinite nature of the universe, there is also the distinct possibility of surprise, perhaps a multitude of surprises, causing scientists to completely re-structure their current knowledge-base.

We may begin to understand how it was that we came to exist, and what exactly it is that exists universally, surrounding us and influencing our galaxy, the outer atmosphere, the finiteness or infinity of nature's premise. God, in His great good wisdom will say nothing, will withhold comment, will keep us guessing.

Human hubris touching the outer reaches.

Labels: Environment, Science

posted by Pieface @ Tuesday, September 16, 2008