Naked Science Forum
Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: @/antic on 16/08/2012 16:03:55
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If the observable and the unobservable universe is an elephant (African or Asian - let's not quibble about minutae), and particle physics is the insides of the elephant (you know, its organs and blood system, etc.), then what does science currently "know" about the universe?
Would you say that science currently knows a cell, or the tail or an entire leg of the elephant?
Or is this question not answerable because science doesn't know what it doesn't know about the universe?
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Perhaps, I should make only the observable universe the elephant, as I read that the observable universe is to the unobservable universe as an atom is to the observable universe.
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Perhaps it is like describing an elephant based on a cave painting.
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.sciencedaily.com%2F2009%2F03%2F090316093629-large.jpg&hash=19dfd5a3dc915fbc734cbc9e298cfb49)
There is a branch of theoretical astronomy, and a branch of observational astronomy. Some things like the existence of exoplanets have been theorized for hundreds of years, but only recently have they been proven. Yet, we are still in the infancy of detecting exoplanets. And, as of yet, the existence of life anywhere other than Earth is still theoretical. There will continue to be attempts to demonstrated astronomical phenomena that has been theorized.
Undoubtedly some of what we think we know about the universe will eventually be proven incorrect, or will never be provable. And, there will continue to be new discoveries.
Some theoretical entities such as wormholes may never progress to anything more than theory.
Undoubtedly it would be interesting to observe a large Black Hole up close (with remote probes). But, perhaps we are hundreds of thousands of years from being able to do so.
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Yes, Clifford, that seems so apt.
:)