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A Universe of Nothing | Bahaa Majid | TEDxDuhok


hello everyone today we’ll be talking

hello everyone today we’ll be talking about how the universe behaves at its

about how the universe behaves at its

about how the universe behaves at its smallest of scales but what I hope you

smallest of scales but what I hope you

smallest of scales but what I hope you understand from it is truly nothing on

understand from it is truly nothing on

understand from it is truly nothing on December 2004 a lecture was given by

December 2004 a lecture was given by

December 2004 a lecture was given by Frank we’ll check in it he emphasized

Frank we’ll check in it he emphasized

Frank we’ll check in it he emphasized that the mass of the protons and the

that the mass of the protons and the

that the mass of the protons and the neutrons that makes up the atom comes

neutrons that makes up the atom comes

neutrons that makes up the atom comes from about 90% of empty space or from

from about 90% of empty space or from

from about 90% of empty space or from nothing

nothing

nothing well that isn’t nothing that we’ll be

well that isn’t nothing that we’ll be

well that isn’t nothing that we’ll be talking about today

talking about today

talking about today to understand this further let’s go to

to understand this further let’s go to

to understand this further let’s go to the Year in 1907 where Einstein is

the Year in 1907 where Einstein is

the Year in 1907 where Einstein is celebrating his newly discovered theory

celebrating his newly discovered theory

celebrating his newly discovered theory of special relativity and decides to

of special relativity and decides to

of special relativity and decides to take on another challenge and he decides

take on another challenge and he decides

take on another challenge and he decides to take the biggest villain of all

to take the biggest villain of all

to take the biggest villain of all theories gravity well it sucks I know it

theories gravity well it sucks I know it

theories gravity well it sucks I know it pull things at the time almost all the

pull things at the time almost all the

pull things at the time almost all the physics community were convinced that

physics community were convinced that

physics community were convinced that gravity is complete and it’s well

gravity is complete and it’s well

gravity is complete and it’s well described by the well-known classical

described by the well-known classical

described by the well-known classical gravity presented by Sir Isaac Newton

gravity presented by Sir Isaac Newton

gravity presented by Sir Isaac Newton but little did Newton know although his

but little did Newton know although his

but little did Newton know although his theory was capable of describing the

theory was capable of describing the

theory was capable of describing the motion of the stars and the motion of

motion of the stars and the motion of

motion of the stars and the motion of the moon the motion of rockets flying to

the moon the motion of rockets flying to

the moon the motion of rockets flying to the moon Newton didn’t know actually why

the moon Newton didn’t know actually why

the moon Newton didn’t know actually why gravity works so for example why is the

gravity works so for example why is the

gravity works so for example why is the Sun that is millions of miles away it’s

Sun that is millions of miles away it’s

Sun that is millions of miles away it’s capable of describing the motion is

capable of describing the motion is

capable of describing the motion is capable of affecting the motion of Earth

capable of affecting the motion of Earth

capable of affecting the motion of Earth that is along that distance this was the

that is along that distance this was the

that is along that distance this was the task that Einstein said to explain

task that Einstein said to explain

task that Einstein said to explain I understand says that the medium that

I understand says that the medium that

I understand says that the medium that transmits gravity is the space-time he

transmits gravity is the space-time he

transmits gravity is the space-time he continued saying that if we had a space

continued saying that if we had a space

continued saying that if we had a space then this space is flat and unchanging

then this space is flat and unchanging

then this space is flat and unchanging and calm much like this picture if there

and calm much like this picture if there

and calm much like this picture if there is no matter or mass present in it

is no matter or mass present in it

is no matter or mass present in it however when there is a mass present in

however when there is a mass present in

however when there is a mass present in us such as the Earth or the Sun this

us such as the Earth or the Sun this

us such as the Earth or the Sun this space encounters some wiggling and

space encounters some wiggling and

space encounters some wiggling and warping and bending due to the effect of

warping and bending due to the effect of

warping and bending due to the effect of mass on it I

mass on it I

mass on it I and and the more the mass the more the

and and the more the mass the more the

and and the more the mass the more the warping and then the more the warping

warping and then the more the warping

warping and then the more the warping the more the force of gravity

the more the force of gravity

the more the force of gravity Einstein continued saying that if we had

Einstein continued saying that if we had

Einstein continued saying that if we had for example earth then earth warps the

for example earth then earth warps the

for example earth then earth warps the space around itself and creates a valley

space around itself and creates a valley

space around itself and creates a valley so that mu moon could circulate in order

so that mu moon could circulate in order

so that mu moon could circulate in order in in orbit around Earth the same is

in in orbit around Earth the same is

in in orbit around Earth the same is true for the motion of the earth around

true for the motion of the earth around

true for the motion of the earth around the Sun earth is forced in orbit due to

the Sun earth is forced in orbit due to

the Sun earth is forced in orbit due to the mass of the Sun and the warp of the

the mass of the Sun and the warp of the

the mass of the Sun and the warp of the space-time around the Sun now this is

space-time around the Sun now this is

space-time around the Sun now this is true for all the matters and all the

true for all the matters and all the

true for all the matters and all the galaxies and the stars in the universe

galaxies and the stars in the universe

galaxies and the stars in the universe Einstein accepting this fact that the

Einstein accepting this fact that the

Einstein accepting this fact that the gravity of is a world of space time and

gravity of is a world of space time and

gravity of is a world of space time and that the universe is static as all

that the universe is static as all

that the universe is static as all scientists believe it to be in 1907 he

scientists believe it to be in 1907 he

scientists believe it to be in 1907 he devised a picture of the universe this

devised a picture of the universe this

devised a picture of the universe this is the equations he came up with little

is the equations he came up with little

is the equations he came up with little Einstein no his equations came

Einstein no his equations came

Einstein no his equations came describing a universe that is expanding

describing a universe that is expanding

describing a universe that is expanding and unchanging but Einstein as his

and unchanging but Einstein as his

and unchanging but Einstein as his predecessors believed in the youever

predecessors believed in the youever

predecessors believed in the youever universe that is static unchanging these

universe that is static unchanging these

universe that is static unchanging these equations came describing a universe

equations came describing a universe

equations came describing a universe that is dynamic changing and expanding

that is dynamic changing and expanding

that is dynamic changing and expanding well Einstein said let me stabilize this

well Einstein said let me stabilize this

well Einstein said let me stabilize this picture by introducing a term and he

picture by introducing a term and he

picture by introducing a term and he called it the cosmological constant we

called it the cosmological constant we

called it the cosmological constant we asked what is a cosmological constant

asked what is a cosmological constant

asked what is a cosmological constant well to understand this we asked another

well to understand this we asked another

well to understand this we asked another question why is the universe big the

question why is the universe big the

question why is the universe big the universe is getting is big and is

universe is getting is big and is

universe is getting is big and is getting bigger and bigger at a faster

getting bigger and bigger at a faster

getting bigger and bigger at a faster and faster rates the cosmological

and faster rates the cosmological

and faster rates the cosmological constant is the driving force that

constant is the driving force that

constant is the driving force that pushes the universe Iestyn introduced it

pushes the universe Iestyn introduced it

pushes the universe Iestyn introduced it as we could see here on the left-hand

as we could see here on the left-hand

as we could see here on the left-hand side as a constant in the geometry of

side as a constant in the geometry of

side as a constant in the geometry of space-time however if we decided to move

space-time however if we decided to move

space-time however if we decided to move the cosmological constant to the

the cosmological constant to the

the cosmological constant to the right-hand side now it represents an

right-hand side now it represents an

right-hand side now it represents an entirely different term it comes from

entirely different term it comes from

entirely different term it comes from the energy and the momentum of the

the energy and the momentum of the

the energy and the momentum of the universe we ask again what could produce

universe we ask again what could produce

universe we ask again what could produce such a term well

such a term well

such a term well as much as many other physicists believe

as much as many other physicists believe

as much as many other physicists believe that nothing could produce such a term

that nothing could produce such a term

that nothing could produce such a term but nothing well is this the energy of

but nothing well is this the energy of

but nothing well is this the energy of nothing if so then what is the energy of

nothing if so then what is the energy of

nothing if so then what is the energy of nothing well to answer this question we

nothing well to answer this question we

nothing well to answer this question we embark on describing the universe on its

embark on describing the universe on its

embark on describing the universe on its grandest of scales for example ordinary

grandest of scales for example ordinary

grandest of scales for example ordinary matter in the universe matter like me

matter in the universe matter like me

matter in the universe matter like me like you galaxies stars atoms and

like you galaxies stars atoms and

like you galaxies stars atoms and eventually as humans come from about

eventually as humans come from about

eventually as humans come from about account for about less than 5% of the

account for about less than 5% of the

account for about less than 5% of the whole mass of the universe

whole mass of the universe

whole mass of the universe 24% is dark energy the stuff that pulls

24% is dark energy the stuff that pulls

24% is dark energy the stuff that pulls galaxies together and 71% is dark matter

galaxies together and 71% is dark matter

galaxies together and 71% is dark matter is the stuff that pushes the universe

is the stuff that pushes the universe

is the stuff that pushes the universe together and it is energy of nothing as

together and it is energy of nothing as

together and it is energy of nothing as Einstein introduced it in his

Einstein introduced it in his

Einstein introduced it in his cosmological constant the cosmological

cosmological constant the cosmological

cosmological constant the cosmological constant is probably the most driving

constant is probably the most driving

constant is probably the most driving force that pushes the universe apart and

force that pushes the universe apart and

force that pushes the universe apart and we don’t know much about it 94 about 95

we don’t know much about it 94 about 95

we don’t know much about it 94 about 95 percent of the universe is invisible and

percent of the universe is invisible and

percent of the universe is invisible and we don’t know what produce this 95

we don’t know what produce this 95

we don’t know what produce this 95 percent but we have a theory we know

percent but we have a theory we know

percent but we have a theory we know that there is something that is pushing

that there is something that is pushing

that there is something that is pushing the universe apart and we call it dark

the universe apart and we call it dark

the universe apart and we call it dark energy well if so then what do we know

energy well if so then what do we know

energy well if so then what do we know dark energy the stuff that pushes the

dark energy the stuff that pushes the

dark energy the stuff that pushes the universe apart causes the universe to

universe apart causes the universe to

universe apart causes the universe to accelerate in its expansion and what do

accelerate in its expansion and what do

accelerate in its expansion and what do we mean then we all know that the

we mean then we all know that the

we mean then we all know that the universe is expanding even children

universe is expanding even children

universe is expanding even children watching cartoons would know that the

watching cartoons would know that the

watching cartoons would know that the universe is expanding but it wasn’t

universe is expanding but it wasn’t

universe is expanding but it wasn’t until six years ago where three

until six years ago where three

until six years ago where three physicists three astronomers won the

physicists three astronomers won the

physicists three astronomers won the Nobel Prize in Physics that we came to

Nobel Prize in Physics that we came to

Nobel Prize in Physics that we came to know that the universe is not only

know that the universe is not only

know that the universe is not only expanding but it also accelerates in its

expanding but it also accelerates in its

expanding but it also accelerates in its expansion well and and and we don’t know

expansion well and and and we don’t know

expansion well and and and we don’t know much about it

much about it

much about it well the cosmological constant acts up

well the cosmological constant acts up

well the cosmological constant acts up as if you are driving a sports car and

as if you are driving a sports car and

as if you are driving a sports car and you are accelerating from zero to a

you are accelerating from zero to a

you are accelerating from zero to a hundred with a very high accelerated

hundred with a very high accelerated

hundred with a very high accelerated motion

motion

motion the cosmological constant is the same

the cosmological constant is the same

the cosmological constant is the same thing as the cushion pushes on your back

thing as the cushion pushes on your back

thing as the cushion pushes on your back from the driving sports car and pushing

from the driving sports car and pushing

from the driving sports car and pushing your back due to the accelerated motion

your back due to the accelerated motion

your back due to the accelerated motion the cousins go contact up in the very

the cousins go contact up in the very

the cousins go contact up in the very same way in pushing the universe apart

same way in pushing the universe apart

same way in pushing the universe apart and accelerating it in its expansion now

and accelerating it in its expansion now

and accelerating it in its expansion now to understand this even further let’s

to understand this even further let’s

to understand this even further let’s dig the atom and go further to find that

dig the atom and go further to find that

dig the atom and go further to find that it’s made of protons and neutrons

it’s made of protons and neutrons

it’s made of protons and neutrons let’s stick even further to find that

let’s stick even further to find that

let’s stick even further to find that it’s made of quarks well Frank we’ll

it’s made of quarks well Frank we’ll

it’s made of quarks well Frank we’ll check as I mentioned earlier says that

check as I mentioned earlier says that

check as I mentioned earlier says that 90% of the mass of the quarks and the

90% of the mass of the quarks and the

90% of the mass of the quarks and the protons and eventually everything that

protons and eventually everything that

protons and eventually everything that you see in the universe comes from about

you see in the universe comes from about

you see in the universe comes from about 90% of nothing and professor Derrick

90% of nothing and professor Derrick

90% of nothing and professor Derrick line Webber provides us with a very nice

line Webber provides us with a very nice

line Webber provides us with a very nice simulation of the space in between these

simulation of the space in between these

simulation of the space in between these quarks and it this is vacuum at the

quarks and it this is vacuum at the

quarks and it this is vacuum at the energy lumps you see are called quantum

energy lumps you see are called quantum

energy lumps you see are called quantum field fluctuations or simply gluon quark

field fluctuations or simply gluon quark

field fluctuations or simply gluon quark field fluctuations as physicists call

field fluctuations as physicists call

field fluctuations as physicists call them this is the true energy of nothing

them this is the true energy of nothing

them this is the true energy of nothing where you see the red spots this is the

where you see the red spots this is the

where you see the red spots this is the high energy concentration of nothing and

high energy concentration of nothing and

high energy concentration of nothing and the the energy goes low as colors

the the energy goes low as colors

the the energy goes low as colors grading goes to yellow and blue as we

grading goes to yellow and blue as we

grading goes to yellow and blue as we can see from the video now what I’m

can see from the video now what I’m

can see from the video now what I’m trying to tell you is that vacuum is

trying to tell you is that vacuum is

trying to tell you is that vacuum is filled with stuffs and there is no zero

filled with stuffs and there is no zero

filled with stuffs and there is no zero state energy and no matter how hard you

state energy and no matter how hard you

state energy and no matter how hard you try sucking things from vacuum how hard

try sucking things from vacuum how hard

try sucking things from vacuum how hard you try you would never ever get the

you try you would never ever get the

you try you would never ever get the number zero no matter how hard you try

number zero no matter how hard you try

number zero no matter how hard you try nothing to make it clearer let’s imagine

nothing to make it clearer let’s imagine

nothing to make it clearer let’s imagine a travel bag everybody has has had his

a travel bag everybody has has had his

a travel bag everybody has has had his travel bags with them well let’s imagine

travel bags with them well let’s imagine

travel bags with them well let’s imagine this travel bag that get never gets

this travel bag that get never gets

this travel bag that get never gets emptied as much as you take your clothes

emptied as much as you take your clothes

emptied as much as you take your clothes your take your shoes off the back and

your take your shoes off the back and

your take your shoes off the back and you try to empty it you still have more

you try to empty it you still have more

you try to empty it you still have more shoes or more shirts left so that you

shoes or more shirts left so that you

shoes or more shirts left so that you could empty

could empty

could empty well this leaves us with a very

well this leaves us with a very

well this leaves us with a very unsettling picture and even if we could

unsettling picture and even if we could

unsettling picture and even if we could rid of get rid of these fluctuations

rid of get rid of these fluctuations

rid of get rid of these fluctuations that you saw in the video still this

that you saw in the video still this

that you saw in the video still this would open up another level of

would open up another level of

would open up another level of nothingness where a variety of quantum

nothingness where a variety of quantum

nothingness where a variety of quantum fields and quantum fluctuations could

fields and quantum fluctuations could

fields and quantum fluctuations could pop into our universe and then fades

pop into our universe and then fades

pop into our universe and then fades away again and much like this picture

away again and much like this picture

away again and much like this picture leaving us with the analogy that the

leaving us with the analogy that the

leaving us with the analogy that the universe is far from being empty and

universe is far from being empty and

universe is far from being empty and vivi the nothingness energy is far from

vivi the nothingness energy is far from

vivi the nothingness energy is far from being nothing well Henry Casimir gives

being nothing well Henry Casimir gives

being nothing well Henry Casimir gives us a another picture of the universe he

us a another picture of the universe he

us a another picture of the universe he says that nothing is filled with virtual

says that nothing is filled with virtual

says that nothing is filled with virtual particles much like these that comes in

particles much like these that comes in

particles much like these that comes in and out of existence

and out of existence

and out of existence each second he also devised a an

each second he also devised a an

each second he also devised a an experiment to test for this extra you

experiment to test for this extra you

experiment to test for this extra you know virtual particles he came he

know virtual particles he came he

know virtual particles he came he described an experiment with a two

described an experiment with a two

described an experiment with a two plates separated by vacuum and since

plates separated by vacuum and since

plates separated by vacuum and since that these virtual particles comes in

that these virtual particles comes in

that these virtual particles comes in and out of existence with a variety of

and out of existence with a variety of

and out of existence with a variety of sizes then bigger particles wouldn’t fit

sizes then bigger particles wouldn’t fit

sizes then bigger particles wouldn’t fit inside these two plates resulting in

inside these two plates resulting in

inside these two plates resulting in more force outside the plates than the

more force outside the plates than the

more force outside the plates than the force inside the place which in its turn

force inside the place which in its turn

force inside the place which in its turn resulting in pushing plates together the

resulting in pushing plates together the

resulting in pushing plates together the experiment was done in 1997 it came to

experiment was done in 1997 it came to

experiment was done in 1997 it came to confirm that the universe is filled with

confirm that the universe is filled with

confirm that the universe is filled with this soup of bubbling virtual particle

this soup of bubbling virtual particle

this soup of bubbling virtual particle that comes in and out of existence now

that comes in and out of existence now

that comes in and out of existence now let’s imagine that these particles are

let’s imagine that these particles are

let’s imagine that these particles are small enough right we said earlier as

small enough right we said earlier as

small enough right we said earlier as human beings we experience three

human beings we experience three

human beings we experience three dimensions of space such as the width

dimensions of space such as the width

dimensions of space such as the width the height and the length well how could

the height and the length well how could

the height and the length well how could there be more dimensions we said earlier

there be more dimensions we said earlier

there be more dimensions we said earlier that space could work bend and curve and

that space could work bend and curve and

that space could work bend and curve and contract if we were to imagine one of

contract if we were to imagine one of

contract if we were to imagine one of the dimensions of the space to contract

the dimensions of the space to contract

the dimensions of the space to contract a size lesser than the size of an

a size lesser than the size of an

a size lesser than the size of an electron then

electron then

electron then this space would be very difficult for

this space would be very difficult for

this space would be very difficult for us human to feel or see but if we were

us human to feel or see but if we were

us human to feel or see but if we were to look close enough than the space that

to look close enough than the space that

to look close enough than the space that that tiny space and that hidden

that tiny space and that hidden

that tiny space and that hidden dimension might eventually pop out to

dimension might eventually pop out to

dimension might eventually pop out to imagine to take this even further for

imagine to take this even further for

imagine to take this even further for imagination let’s imagine a person

imagination let’s imagine a person

imagination let’s imagine a person walking on a rope much like this picture

walking on a rope much like this picture

walking on a rope much like this picture while this person could encounter only

while this person could encounter only

while this person could encounter only going backward and forward an ant could

going backward and forward an ant could

going backward and forward an ant could go backward forward and cool around the

go backward forward and cool around the

go backward forward and cool around the rope in what appears to be a curled up

rope in what appears to be a curled up

rope in what appears to be a curled up extra dimensions as humans we don’t feel

extra dimensions as humans we don’t feel

extra dimensions as humans we don’t feel these microscopic extra dimensions or

these microscopic extra dimensions or

these microscopic extra dimensions or hidden dimensions because they’re

hidden dimensions because they’re

hidden dimensions because they’re they’re very tiny and small but the

they’re very tiny and small but the

they’re very tiny and small but the virtual particles predicted by Henri

virtual particles predicted by Henri

virtual particles predicted by Henri Casimir do and these hidden dimensions

Casimir do and these hidden dimensions

Casimir do and these hidden dimensions that we said about earlier could be

that we said about earlier could be

that we said about earlier could be gateways bringing these hidden virtual

gateways bringing these hidden virtual

gateways bringing these hidden virtual particles into existence and then taking

particles into existence and then taking

particles into existence and then taking them out of existence again as a

them out of existence again as a

them out of existence again as a physicist I work in a field called

physicist I work in a field called

physicist I work in a field called quantum gravity it predicts the

quantum gravity it predicts the

quantum gravity it predicts the existence of hidden dimensions and these

existence of hidden dimensions and these

existence of hidden dimensions and these hidden dimensions we said earlier could

hidden dimensions we said earlier could

hidden dimensions we said earlier could be portals to these particles well as a

be portals to these particles well as a

be portals to these particles well as a physicist I work in these hidden

physicist I work in these hidden

physicist I work in these hidden dimensions and we we noticed that

dimensions and we we noticed that

dimensions and we we noticed that looking at these hidden dimensions is

looking at these hidden dimensions is

looking at these hidden dimensions is not enough we need to test for these

not enough we need to test for these

not enough we need to test for these hidden dimensions these hidden

hidden dimensions these hidden

hidden dimensions these hidden dimensions can be only seen if we try to

dimensions can be only seen if we try to

dimensions can be only seen if we try to see particles that exist only if these

see particles that exist only if these

see particles that exist only if these hidden dimensions exist well how to test

hidden dimensions exist well how to test

hidden dimensions exist well how to test for these hidden dimensions we

for these hidden dimensions we

for these hidden dimensions we accelerate the protons to protons to

accelerate the protons to protons to

accelerate the protons to protons to speeds near that of light and then

speeds near that of light and then

speeds near that of light and then smashing them together resulting in a

smashing them together resulting in a

smashing them together resulting in a very high collision of a soup of

very high collision of a soup of

very high collision of a soup of particles and this could be achieved

particles and this could be achieved

particles and this could be achieved through the Large Hadron Collider at

through the Large Hadron Collider at

through the Large Hadron Collider at CERN which we could do hopefully in the

CERN which we could do hopefully in the

CERN which we could do hopefully in the near future

near future

near future well nothing remains a very very wide

well nothing remains a very very wide

well nothing remains a very very wide field and one day we might be able to

field and one day we might be able to

field and one day we might be able to harness the energy of nothing and use it

harness the energy of nothing and use it

harness the energy of nothing and use it as free energy but until that day I

as free energy but until that day I

as free energy but until that day I believe as much as many other physicists

believe as much as many other physicists

believe as much as many other physicists that the best way to do it is to test

that the best way to do it is to test

that the best way to do it is to test for hidden dimensions and if hidden

for hidden dimensions and if hidden

for hidden dimensions and if hidden dimensions are real then virtual

dimensions are real then virtual

dimensions are real then virtual particles are real and the universe is a

particles are real and the universe is a

particles are real and the universe is a key element of these hidden dimensions

key element of these hidden dimensions

key element of these hidden dimensions thank you

thank you

thank you [Applause]

”

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