The discussion revolves around the concept of quantum tunneling potentially leading to a new Big Bang after the heat death of the universe. Participants explore the implications of quantum fluctuations, entropy, and the conditions necessary for such an event to occur, touching on theoretical aspects of cosmology and quantum physics.
Participants express various viewpoints and uncertainties regarding the mechanisms of quantum tunneling and the implications of heat death, with no consensus reached on the feasibility or specifics of these ideas.
Participants highlight limitations in understanding energy definitions within General Relativity and the probabilistic nature of entropy changes, indicating that these factors complicate the discussion.
The initial seed would be smaller than a proton. You don't need much of any mass (neither mass nor energy are conserved in an expanding universe).goat-on-a-stick said:
I saw a discussion about the origin of the universe on Youtube once, I think it was an Issac Asimov debate, but not sure. From it, my understanding is that tiny pockets of empty space can just form out of the laws of quantum physics, and that the mathematics of general relativity say that completely empty space has an outward pressure and will expand rapidly. Rapidly expanding space is thought to create intense Hawking radiation which fills it with energy.goat-on-a-stick said:
I thought that the seed would have exactly zero energy?Chalnoth said:
That's not entirely clear. Maybe. It depends a bit upon how you define energy (General Relativity doesn't have an unambiguous definition for total energy, and in a lot of situations it's not even possible to come up with a definition of total energy).newjerseyrunner said: