Is there such a thing as true darkness?

Thread starter phaeton
Start date Jul 19, 2012

AI Thread Summary

The discussion revolves around the concept of true darkness and whether it exists in the universe, given that electromagnetic radiation permeates all space. It argues that since all objects emit thermal radiation, even in total darkness, there are always some photons present, suggesting true darkness may not exist. The conversation also touches on the definitions of light and darkness, emphasizing that human perception is limited to the visible spectrum, while other forms of electromagnetic radiation exist beyond it. The debate extends to the nature of photons, questioning their mass and whether they can be considered substance despite being massless. Ultimately, the consensus leans towards the idea that while true darkness may be a subjective experience, it likely does not exist objectively in the universe.

Jun 20, 2016

Drakkith

Mentor

Jay Nazareth said:

Using what everyone has posted it could be that photons are a substance, since everything is composed of energy.

In the end this boils down to semantics, not physics. We know what light is. We know what energy is. Those are not mysterious in any way. The physics is not in question here, merely the meaning of words, which is a near-pointless argument. If you want to call photons a substance, then go right ahead. Just be aware that most people do not and you're going to have a difficult time communicating effectively if you choose to use words in a non-standard way.