‘A Universe From Nothing’ by Lawrence Krauss, AAI 2009 (Video)

During a lecture sponsored by RDF, physicist Lawrence Krauss discussed the challenging and tricky questions he encounters, particularly from atheists, which he finds most difficult to handle. He highlighted the work of a fellow physicist who has made significant contributions to the public understanding of science and has taken up multiple directorial roles at Arizona State University to study the origins of the universe, life, and everything conceivable.

Krauss then delved into the mysteries of cosmology, emphasizing that scientists revel in the unknown and the excitement of discovery, contrasting this with the static nature of religious knowledge. He recounted the historical development of cosmology, from Einstein’s general theory of relativity, which initially conflicted with the static universe paradigm, to Edwin Hubble’s discovery of the expanding universe, which completely altered our understanding of cosmology and its implications.

He explained how we measure the expansion of the universe using the Doppler effect and standard candles like supernovae, which are critical in determining distances in the cosmos. Krauss also touched on the concept of dark matter, which constitutes most of the universe’s mass but does not emit light, and the ongoing efforts to detect it through experiments.

Krauss discussed the geometry of the universe—whether it is open, closed, or flat—and how this relates to its ultimate fate. He explained that current observations suggest the universe is flat, with zero total energy, which could mean it originated from nothing due to quantum fluctuations. However, there’s still a mystery regarding why we observe the universe at a time when the energy density of empty space and matter are comparable, leading to theories about multiple universes and the anthropic principle.

Finally, Krauss pondered the far future of the universe, which, due to its accelerating expansion, will eventually lead to a state where distant galaxies are no longer visible, and evidence of the universe’s past, like the cosmic microwave background, will disappear. This suggests that future civilizations might develop a completely different understanding of the universe, highlighting the importance of humility in science and the recognition that there is much we still do not understand.