Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas 70 | Katie Mack on How the Universe Will End
Oct 28, 2019
Katie Mack, a theoretical cosmologist and author of 'The End of Everything,' dives into the future of the universe. She explores fascinating scenarios, including a Big Crunch, heat death, and the ominous 'bubble of quantum death.' Mack discusses dark energy's role and our universe's accelerating expansion, unraveling the complexities that challenge previous theories. The conversation further touches on parallel universes and the existential implications of cosmic demise, inviting a Zen-like acceptance of life's transience.
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Big Bang Misconception
- The Big Bang theory is often misunderstood as an explosion from a single point.
- Physicists define it as the hot, dense state of the early universe, evidenced by background radiation.
Early Universe Evidence
- We understand the universe from a fraction of a second after the Big Bang.
- Evidence comes from analyzing background light, high-energy experiments, and elemental abundance.
Big Bang Denial
- In the mid-20th century, Big Bang denial was common.
- The theory's acceptance highlights the progress made in the last century.
