The Big Picture

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One of the primary goals of science is to develop a detailed picture of our environment that encompasses all of its properties.

Recent advances in observational technologies have allowed scientists to make broader more accurate measurements of our environment while computers have allowed them to integrate these observations into a “Big Picture” that encompasses a much larger range of observations than previously possible.

For example the activation of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) will allow us to probe the microscopic particle properties of mass to resolution approaching 2.17645 × 10^−8 kg or Planck mass and energy to 1.22 × 10²⁸ eV or Planck’s energy. 

While the images from the Hubble and Spitzer Space Telescopes have given us the ability to make detailed measurements of universe’s macroscopic properties back almost to its beginnings.
However, even with these advances in measurement technology science has been unable to define a common mechanism that can explain the microscopic properties of energy/mass probed by the Large Hadron Collider and the macroscopic properties of the universe as seen by the Hubble and Spitzer Space Telescope.

This may be because science has tried to combine the picture of the microscopic environment provided by the LHC in terms of their quantum mechanical properties while defining the macroscopic environment provided by  the Hubble and Spitzer Space Telescopes in terms of continuous space-time metric of Einstein’s theories.

This is like trying to compare and apple to an orange, which as everyone knows is extremely difficult.

In other words, it is very difficult if not impossible to derive or define the continuous properties of a space-time environment in terms of the discontinuous properties of quantum mechanics or the discontinuous properties of quantum mechanics in terms of the he continuous properties of space-time because they are diametric opposite.

For example, Einstein’s theories define mass and gravity in terms of a curvature in a continuous space-time metric while quantum theories define the quantum mechanical properties of energy/mass in terms of the discontinuous properties of particles. 

Therefore, scientists must rely on two seemly incompatible theories to completely define our observational environment.

However, as Dr. Robert Hert shows in this NASA video advancements in technology have not only allowed science to make more detailed measurements of our environment but also greatly improved our the ability to integrate them into a larger setting.

For example, Einstein’s theories predicts the position of an object such as a star, planet or particle by assuming it is defined by the forces it experiences as it moves along a well defined trajectory whereas quantum theory predicts its position in terms of the probability it will be at a specific point at a specific point in time.  Therefore, Einstein’s theories predict there is one trajectory a particle can take from one point to another while quantum theory assume there is an infinite number because probabilities are an expression the ratio of favorable cases to the whole number of cases possible.

However, quantum mechanics assumes the position of a particle can only be defined in terms of the probability it will be at a specific position at a specific time and not in terms of the forces it experiences as it move through space.

Yet recent technological advances provide direct observation evidence this is invalid.

For example in particle accelerators, such as the Large Hadron Collider use magnetic forces to direct particles along a predetermined circular path so they collide with other particles.  This provides experimental verification their positions and trajectories are definable in terms of the forces they experience because operators determine them by adjusting the strength or force of the magnetic fields they move through.

This appears to contradict quantum theories assumption that a particles trajectory can be defined by probabilities.

Granted there is an uncertainty in their trajectories due to the Uncertainty Principle but they are observable and completely determinable by the forces they experience down to the limits imposed by that principle.

However, it agrees with the assumption made by Einstein that the trajectory and position of a particle should be determinable by the forces it experiences as it moves through space.

For the first time history humankind has the ability to directly integrate physical observations of particle motion with those of stars and galaxies because instruments such as the LHC will give us the ability to directly observe their movements. 

As mentioned earlier we also have the ability to integrate many different types of databases to give a “Big Picture” of our environment.  For example, the NASA video shows we can now merge the invisible inferred and ultraviolet light with the visible by assigning each a color in the visual spectrum.  This allows us to integrate or overlay the images of the invisible inferred and ultraviolet environments into a visual one.  As Dr. Robert Hert suggests this “Big Picture” may improve our ability, to “see” how and why these environments interact.

Perhaps we should try to directly merge the data bases or images given to us by the Large Hadron Collider and the Hubble and Spitzer Space telescopes instead of first putting them in Quantum mechanical or Relativistic “box” to explain how different aspects of our environment interact because, as video shows it may allow us to better understand of how and why they do.

The Road to Unification has and will show by forming a big picture out of current and past data, unbiased by the assumptions made by quantum mechanics or Einstein’s theories point new physics, may allow us to “see” the link between macroscopic world of gravity and the microscopic world of particles.

Later Jeff

Copyright Jeffrey O’Callaghan 2009

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