Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: jeisonrs on 19/12/2010 03:40:09

Title: Are false vacuum a real threat ?
Post by: jeisonrs on 19/12/2010 03:40:09

Hello :)

I was wondering if the false vacuum is a real threat
or just a theory without evidence of it.
I'm really terrified by this, so please, don't make jokes.
By false vacuum I mean that "theory" on Wikipedia about the universe ending
instantaneously without any kind of warning.

Thanks in advance.

Title: Are false vacuum a real threat ?
Post by: JP on 19/12/2010 06:39:25

Well, it's a bit more worrying than the 2012 Mayan calendar apocalypse, since it's based on actual scientific theories, but the false vacuum hypothesis hasn't been tested, so we don't know if it's even possible, or how likely it might be to happen if it is possible.  Given the fact that the universe has been around for billions of years, I don't think it's worth worrying that this could happen in your lifetime, even if it was possible.

Title: Are false vacuum a real threat ?
Post by: jeisonrs on 19/12/2010 06:47:22

Yeah, I know that the 2012 calendar is fake, plus the Mayans believed in Gods, which science obsviously doesn't believe for
obvious reasons.
And I just see in my mind that this will happen at any minute, and I know I'm just being paranoid about this...
I know that we all will go someday, but what terrifies me it's the "instantaneously" thing.
In a normal life, and you are old, you know that will happen and you slowly die or die immediately, but you know you're going, not
this theory that universe will instantaneously vanish, that's what worries me.

Thanks for the answer!

Title: Are false vacuum a real threat ?
Post by: Bored chemist on 19/12/2010 14:37:49

There is nothing you could, even in principle, do about it so there's no point worrying.
Live your life as if the false vacuum is a fairy tale. It won't ever matter to you.

Title: Are false vacuum a real threat ?
Post by: Bill S on 19/12/2010 18:51:25

jeisonrs, I understand that fears of this sort are very real and can be quite debilitating.  If you find that this fear is adversely influencing your life, do seek professional help.  If things are not as bad as that; try remembering that this is only someone's idea. Even if possible, it is probably no more likely than the sudden appearance of a "Boltzmann brain". 

Then again, there are other theories, such as the multiverse, that could side-step the effects of false vacuum instability.

I believe Bertrand Russell suffered severe depression as a result of reading about the probable heat-death of the Universe.  That's a much more likely scenario than sudden false vacuum collapse, but still not worth ruining one's life over.   

Title: Are false vacuum a real threat ?
Post by: jeisonrs on 19/12/2010 22:55:58

Yeah, I'm going to talk to my psychiatrist monday. And that's what I wanted to hear,
that this was just someone's idea/theory, like when you are with a friend talking
about a movie and say "maybe that other guy did it", you know.
But the heat-death scenario would probably lead to another scenario that everything would be
re-created/recicled, and another worlds and galaxies would come and new life forms, etc, but the falsee
vacuum leaves nothing to go on, everything suddenly ends, and that's it, and what bothers me more
is the "where do we go" and "what happens next" questions, even though we probably will never know the answers
to these questions...

Thanks again for the answers.

Title: Are false vacuum a real threat ?
Post by: Soul Surfer on 20/12/2010 23:24:44

I have always believed that personal death is inevitable unpredictable, totally final and essential for life to continue. It does not worry me in the slightest and just stimulates me to get on with doing the important things which are a balance between my personal pleasure and the needs of others and the rest of life on this planet.

Title: Are false vacuum a real threat ?
Post by: jeisonrs on 21/12/2010 07:33:43

Yeah but, I believe in reincarnation, because like JP said, the universe is here for billions
of years (13.7 billion years according to Wikipedia), and I just doubt that
you live only once for some years (some people die on their 10's), for me it's just not possible,
plus, try to imagine seeing nothing, it's impossible, you'll always see black or white, it's not possible
to not see anything.
And if you believe in that, your fears is not dying, but your fear is to not live ever again,
and in my point of view, we don't remember past lives because memories are stored on our brains,
not on our consciousness, but we'll never know for sure.