What is the scariest scientific concept?

[Kronos5253]

I never bothered worrying about death. It's inevitable. I don't really get sad over death, or the passing of loved ones either. I learned to celebrate life, not mourn death. It's going to happen no matter what, whenever possible, so why worry about it? Rather, celebrate the life that was lived. That's not to say you can't shed tears over the loss of a loved one, but then I don't believe that when we die that's it. I believe in an "afterlife" for lack of a better word, but not in the sense that most other people think of it.

Anyways, to the OP:

The human potential, because I believe that we don't know when to stop, and by the time we do, it's too late.

 

[Jimmy Snyder]

Final exams.

 

[chemisttree]

That the entire universe could very likely be a hologram. Oh, and the dyin' thing too.

 

[lawtonfogle]

Funny, I can't remember the exact age, but I also had a very similar experience. I must have been around five because of what I remember about my surroundings. What must have seemed to come out of nowhere (I was a quiet child) I one day randomly told my mother that I don't want to die. She looked at me with a strange look on her face and asked why I was thinking of such a thing. I had no clue. All I know is that at the time it was the most weighty, epic thought I ever had, and it scared the hell out of me.

For me it was a bit more of a rude awakening. I was young, probably 5 but I'm not sure. My parents were watching a WWII film, and it was focusing on the Nazi invasion of some place at one point. I happened to start watching it (my parents may not have noticed or didn't think I knew what was going on), and before long there was a scene where a Nazi kills one woman holding her child. You hear the shot, the mother falling, and the baby screaming. A few moments later, you hear another shot and then completely silence. Not only was that the first time I comprehended death, it was the first time I ever felt rage and a desire to kill someone else. The way I acted after that happened worried my mother that the scene permanently damaged me... she was probably right.

As to the topic of this thread... that no where I have ever seen does science allow for free will. Either things are predetermined, or they are chaotic. Either way, no free will, only an illusion of it at best.

 

[Sorry!]

For me it was a bit more of a rude awakening. I was young, probably 5 but I'm not sure. My parents were watching a WWII film, and it was focusing on the Nazi invasion of some place at one point. I happened to start watching it (my parents may not have noticed or didn't think I knew what was going on), and before long there was a scene where a Nazi kills one woman holding her child. You hear the shot, the mother falling, and the baby screaming. A few moments later, you hear another shot and then completely silence. Not only was that the first time I comprehended death, it was the first time I ever felt rage and a desire to kill someone else. The way I acted after that happened worried my mother that the scene permanently damaged me... she was probably right.

As to the topic of this thread... that no where I have ever seen does science allow for free will. Either things are predetermined, or they are chaotic. Either way, no free will, only an illusion of it at best.

Sciences on a grand scale are pretty determinate... i.e. if you throw a ball we know where it will go and how fast along every point it is travelling. On a microscale it's not like that at all... to my knowledge at least. I think sciences of the brain/mind will have to be done on the microscale and I don't think we've even started climbing up that mountain just yet... (maybe we're at altitude 2m on a 5000 m mountain lol :D )

 

[Monique]

Either way, no free will, only an illusion of it at best.

I don't agree, the mind is very powerful.

 

[f95toli]

topics that freak you out? What about trying to think about the boundaries of the universe? etc

Yes, some results from experimental psychology on "human nature". For example Milgram's "torture experiment" or one of its variations, or perhaps the more famous (albeit perhaps scientifically less sound) Stanford prison experiment.

Physics does not "freak me out" anymore, I guess it is simply because I am used to "weird" concepts in QM etc by now, having worked with them for a few years,
But the results of Milgram's experiment is actually scares, even though I am quite cynical when it comes to humanity.
They actually reproduced the original experiment in a recent BBC documentary and it is one of the most unsettling things I've ever seen on TV.

 

[Monique]

Yes, some results from experimental psychology on "human nature".

That's actually the first thing that came to my mind, people like Mengele. Something that truly scared me recently was this wikipedia entry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unnecessary_Fuss" . I know animal research is important, but the thought of deliberately inflicting brain damage to baboons and laughing about it really made me sick.

 

[Redbelly98]

Something that always freaks me out is the idea that time has no end, every time I think about it I get properly wierded out.

If we believed that time itself had an end, that would bother me more.

A few somewhat related things that are weird to me, but only if I spend too much time thinking about them:

We have a small number of stable subatomic particles. The positively and negatively charged ones are so utterly different in their properties, and that somehow allows them to combine to form a variety of elements from which stars, planets, and life can be formed. (For example if protons and electrons had roughly the same mass, would there be large atoms? If so, would it be as easy to ionize them as it is the ones we actually have?)

Our solar system had to come along later than others, so that it could contain heavier elements (that formed from fusion of H and He in earlier stars) from which life can be formed.

Our planet's orbit is located within a narrow range, so that water can exist in a liquid state and life (as we know it) can form.

 

[Loren Booda]

Lying in bed as a young child, I used to see "atoms" in the dark. Apparently one was alive and would chase me through my nightmares, until it grabbed my neck and I whited out, hopefully to wake up.

Years later, I realized its humility by recognizing that it was now merely insect scat.

 

[f95toli]

That's actually the first thing that came to my mind, people like Mengele.

Well, yes. But we can quite safely regard Mengele and other famous "monsters" as anomalies. The reason why I find Milgram's experiment so unsettling is that it shows that most of us (something like 70-80% according to these experiments) are capable of doing things that we would normally regards as horrible, the only thing needed is that someone who we regard as an authority figure tells us to do it. Note that we are talking about "normal" people, not e.g. people who've had some sort of traumatic experience or have some sort of psychiatric disorder. It seems to be that way our brains work.
Moreover, there doesn't seem to be a clear patter for who are able "resist" this influence meaning none of us can say for sure that we would never do these thing.

It is also entirely possible that if the test subjects were all members of this forum the percentage that would "go all the way" would be even higher than the average, the reason being that the rationale for the "shock therapy" given by Milgram was that it was suppose to help science, meaning people who think science is important (member of this forum) might be more inclined to go along with it.

 

[leroyjenkens]

Well, yes. But we can quite safely regard Mengele and other famous "monsters" as anomalies. The reason why I find Milgram's experiment so unsettling is that it shows that most of us (something like 70-80% according to these experiments) are capable of doing things that we would normally regards as horrible, the only thing needed is that someone who we regard as an authority figure tells us to do it. Note that we are talking about "normal" people, not e.g. people who've had some sort of traumatic experience or have some sort of psychiatric disorder. It seems to be that way our brains work.
Moreover, there doesn't seem to be a clear patter for who are able "resist" this influence meaning none of us can say for sure that we would never do these thing.

I think that results of that experiment would vary greatly depending on where and what era you do the experiment in. You can't conclude all people are like that just from one experiment.

 

[DaveC426913]

Lying in bed as a young child, I used to see "atoms" in the dark. Apparently one was alive and would chase me through my nightmares, until it grabbed my neck and I whited out, hopefully to wake up.

Years later, I realized its humility by recognizing that it was now merely insect scat.

The "atoms" your were seeing were insect scat?

What? Floating around above your bed??

 

[Sorry!]

Lying in bed as a young child, I used to see "atoms" in the dark. Apparently one was alive and would chase me through my nightmares, until it grabbed my neck and I whited out, hopefully to wake up.

Years later, I realized its humility by recognizing that it was now merely insect scat.

I'm trying to think of something funny to say here but I can't do it. Man you said insect scat was floating around your head and I can't think of anything funny what's wrong with me today. :(

 

[Pattonias]

This isn't related, but one night when I had a fever I was lying in bed and as clear as day, with my bed lamp on, thought I saw myself walk into the middle of the room with a huge ruck sack in his/my back. He/I turned and stared at me while I was looking right back at him/myself.

He stayed after I blinked and spoke. I think I blacked out but the next morning I woke up and everything was normal. A friend later told me that I had "waking dream". I had always thought that was something for movies, but apparently you can have a dream that is so convincing that you actually have no idea that you are asleep as is the case in most dreams.

That was probably one of the scariest moments I have ever experienced. I still remember it vividly to this day. I imagine a psychologist would have a field day with the contents of the dream.

 

[DaveC426913]

This isn't related, but one night when I had a fever I was lying in bed and as clear as day, with my bed lamp on, thought I saw myself walk into the middle of the room with a huge ruck sack in his/my back. He/I turned and stared at me while I was looking right back at him/myself.

He stayed after I blinked and spoke. I think I blacked out but the next morning I woke up and everything was normal. A friend later told me that I had "waking dream". I had always thought that was something for movies, but apparently you can have a dream that is so convincing that you actually have no idea that you are asleep as is the case in most dreams.

That was probably one of the scariest moments I have ever experienced. I still remember it vividly to this day. I imagine a psychologist would have a field day with the contents of the dream.

That is a hallucination, brought on by fever.

 

[Loren Booda]

I'm trying to think of something funny to say here but I can't do it. Man you said insect scat was floating around your head and I can't think of anything funny what's wrong with me today. :(

Actually, the "atoms" were my retinal rods firing from photons in the near-dark, the one that chased me during my early years might be described as a very threatening "black hole" (or was derived from a stay in a cabin with scary knotholes) and the eventual change of its image into insect scat (while dreaming, now under control in my hand, yuck, but just that of an insect) made it more ridiculous than dangerous.

 

[DanP]

The qustion is, are there any scientific concepts/topics that freak you out? What about trying to think about the boundaries of the universe? etc

Gravitation.

 

[Pattonias]

That is a hallucination, brought on by fever.

Yep, one of the many things that make high fevers so much fun.

 

[Molydood]

Thanks for all the comments :-)
I am quite surprised there were not more about time and also maybe other things like particle duality (or more generally the quantum world) or the vastness of space or, or, or...
:-)

 

[TheStatutoryApe]

The "atoms" your were seeing were insect scat?

What? Floating around above your bed??

Actually, the "atoms" were my retinal rods firing from photons in the near-dark, the one that chased me during my early years might be described as a very threatening "black hole" (or was derived from a stay in a cabin with scary knotholes) and the eventual change of its image into insect scat (while dreaming, now under control in my hand, yuck, but just that of an insect) made it more ridiculous than dangerous.

Its funny that this happened to me too. I used to see "static" like on a television (gives you an idea of my generation there) in front of my eyes at night when I was trying to sleep. "They" would not go away and I determined one night in my mind that these "static" entities (I watched too much star trek the next generation probably) were really my friends and not weird oppressive beings that would not leave me alone. I later read that these 'dots' and such are apparently bacteria and other micro organisms floating on the lens of the eye.

Its good to know that I am not a total freak, except perhaps for 'making friends' with the bacteria and microorganisms in my eyes.

 

[Borg]

Thanks for all the comments :-)
I am quite surprised there were not more about time and also maybe other things like particle duality (or more generally the quantum world) or the vastness of space or, or, or...
:-)

Being consumed by nanobots.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_goo"

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Its good to know that I am not a total freak, except perhaps for 'making friends' with the bacteria and microorganisms in my eyes.

haha, i see the static too, but also during light. I must have a lot!

http://www.visualsnow.com

 

[Evo]

haha, i see the static too, but also during light. I must have a lot!

http://www.visualsnow.com

Very interesting, so it can be a type of "migraine". I have had two opthalmic migraines that have the cool glowing crescent filled with undulating geometric designs. I wish I could have another, it was the most amazing thing.

 

[sganesh88]

Yes, some results from experimental psychology on "human nature". For example Milgram's "torture experiment" or one of its variations, or perhaps the more famous (albeit perhaps scientifically less sound) Stanford prison experiment.

Isn't the holocaust a direct evidence of such a dark nature of humans.? Not just the holocaust, there were several million wars before the WWII and in each of them not just the soldiers but almost equal number of innocent civilians were also murdered and raped. All these rapes and murders were committed by the apparently normal human beings who were ploughing the fields or making jewels before a particular war started.
I think the whole process involves many steps. Maybe initially they had moral issues. Then due to helplessness and the power of the higher authority-as they perceive it-, they give in. Then the second theory of milgram comes into picture. "He says; I do; Who cares" approach.
Then i think a third step is involved.. Which i think Milgram missed. (I just now read the article on his experiment in wiki though i have thought about this nature of humans before) With prolonged obedient working, humans begin to get joy from the work. Like institutionalism in jails (remember Morgan freeman of the Shawshank Redemption). Killing and massacring seems enjoyable.
I am afraid.

 

[Jimmy]

are there any scientific concepts/topics that freak you out?

Cloning, Earth's fragility, and my own sentience.

 

[Delta One]

Only a few truly scared me(and still do, when i think about them); of the few:

That we may all be irrelevant in the universe. We have such egos that makes us believe that we do matter and make a difference, but what if we don't. We are not even in the center of the milky way.

Earth, our universe, is a study/ research and we are small particles being watched on by aliens in white coat. Think of Dr Suess's Nortan Hears a Who. I was surprised he had the same idea i did.

 

[scott1]

In few billion years the sun will expand and destroy the earth...When I learned about that in the 1st grade that scared me

 

[Ivan Seeking]

GRBs. I don't like threats for which there is no possible defense.

Spaghettification - what a way to go!

Global Climate Change - perhaps the greatest challenge ever faced by civilization.

Thanks for all the comments :-)
I am quite surprised there were not more about time and also maybe other things like particle duality (or more generally the quantum world) or the vastness of space or, or, or...
:-)

Those would be the sorts of things that motivated me to get a physics degree. "Scary" is not the word that comes to mind.

 

[Molydood]

Being consumed by nanobots.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_goo"

that one got me for a while too, back in the 90's actually when I first got interested in physics