MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
have been watching some science documentaries about black holes and the universe on bbc i player.
as science constantly strives to find the answer to the universe and everything,do you think they will one day have the answer to the secrets of the universe? or do you think that nature will always throw out the "chaos" card and always leave more questions than answers?
maybe because i am thick,but i would like for the universe to always keep something's unexplained.
what do you think?
42
Of course not. The more things we learn the more questions we have about those things.
No,I think they will keep finding new questions.
Less flippantly the answer to that would seem to be no. For example the uncertainty principle doesn't look to be something that can be overcome by better measurements, it appears to be a fundamental property of the universe. Which isn't to say that new physics wont overturn that but at present the more accurately you know the momentum the less accurately you know the position.
If science found the answer to everything people would have to start looking for answers elsewhere maybe they'd get them from an imaginary omnipotent overlord that they believe in.
Given that science is of the human construct, it is a way for us to try and understand and interpret everything around and within us. We created the language of science and so we can understand what it tells us. It allows us to observe and find verifiable results from our observations.
Which does tend me to think that the there is a rather obvious flaw in the science we know and have created. Precisely that, we created it and it verifies what we observe. Whether our observations are really what's going on is, in my mind, highly dubious. People can spout what they like about quantum physics hailing it as the absolute truth, yet are still completely derisory about homeopathy, for example. Which makes me feel that in answer to your question, no, we won't ever know everything, because we are too closed minded, despite our great curiosity.
Additionally, forever is a long time, in the same way that everything is an awful lot of stuff that we can't even imagine yet, because our field of view is limited because we are human.
Yes but quantum mechanics is a testable theory based on observed effects and measurable events even so it is presented by its proponents as a theory not the absolute certain truth . Homeopathy is made up tosh presented by it's believers as fact.
To paraquote Dara O'Briain, "science knows it doesn't know everything, otherwise it'd stop." I can't envisage a day where scientists go "well, that's all of it, time to retrain as a plasterer."
No, I don't think science will ever be 'finished'.
People can spout what they like about quantum physics hailing it as the absolute truth, yet are still completely derisory about homeopathy, for example. ... because we are too closed minded.
You seem to be implying three things here:
1)Quantum physics is a load of old guff that you can say what you like about- there's no model and so there's no way of distinguishing between things that are more or less likely to turn out to be true and no way of testing them.
2)Homeopathy is an observable, repeatable, testable phenomenon.
3)They should be taken equally seriously, and if you don't it's being closed minded.
I'd disagree with all 3 😉
People can spout what they like about quantum physics hailing it as the absolute truth, yet are still completely derisory about homeopathy, for example.
The reason I'm derisory about homeopathy, for example, is in parallel to science. Ie, aside from the fact that the science of homeopathy is [s]absolute horseshit[/s] yet to be explained, more compelling is the fact that it has no efficacy beyond placebo. And if you can prove me wrong on that I'll give you my bike. (because we're both going to be very, very rich)
No.
Please don't let this turn into another homeopathy thread...
To be honest once we got past the bacon sandwich I'm not sure we've learned much else of interest to me.
No science won't know everything in an expanding universe the subject is just too big . It can aim to understand the building blocks and core rules but even then it is unlikely to get far .
Please don't let this turn into another homeopathy thread...
We don't need to do that, I still have a memory of the previous one.
I see our advances in knowledge like the paradox where one repeatedly travels halfway from point A to point B.
We'll get closer and closer to omniscience but will never actually achieve it.
That's actually the basis for a philosophical paper that I wrote proving the existence of God, but I didn't like the conclusion so got drunk and set it on fire.
In the late 19th century there was a view held by some scientists that all the big questions had been answered. How wrong they were...
For as long as we fail to rebel against the biscuit manufacturers that laugh at us with their packaging that insists we must open a packet of chocolate hob nobs and eat 5 immediately before we can close the packet up again, we shall never progress.
Great question though; one that blows my mind after a few minutes discussion with my dear old Pop, who is a fantastic thinker on such matters.
Given forever it probably would but we will be extinct long before forever so for us that'll be a no.
The answer to everything is already on this forum, you've just misinterpreted the information.
It's known simply as the Edinburgh misinterpretation.
If we ever get to the point where we know and understand everything then the fun with science really begins 🙂
All scientists know that there is always more to discover.
“As our circle of knowledge expands, so does the circumference of darkness surrounding it.”
? Albert Einstein
thejesmonddingo - Member
No,I think they will keep finding new questions.
This is what science is all about. Never is it about finding answers. It's about determining everything until the only thing that is left, has to be true.
If we ever get to the point where we know and understand everything then the fun with [s]science[/s] engineering really begins
FTFY 😉
No, however I am concerned by bearnecessities suggestion that a packet of opened chocolate hobnobs can be closed with biscuits still inside. Surely all the hobnobs get eaten in one go and the empty packet placed in the bin?
I really hope not, it would get boring otherwise
It's all in your mind.
You're just an illusion ...
😆
Impossible to know everything in an infinite universe..
Science has the answer to nowt.
It just presents couple more options to consider.
I hope it doesn't but it is a method for learning more and more.
The other option is religion which is still working off version 1 of an old book. Not providing any answers.
Science allows for answers but also allows therfore many more questions.
lazybike - Member
Impossible to know everything in an infinite universe..
How sure are you that its infinite?
If we found the answer to everything, it would mean that we had ran out of imagination.
That would be a shit world.
I work with a guy who knows the answer to everything.
we created it and it verifies what we observe.
Yes that will be why what we thought when we made science is exactly the same as what we think today 😕
Whether our observations are really what's going on is, in my mind, highly dubious.
What
People can spout what they like about quantum physics hailing it as the absolute truth, yet are still completely derisory about homoeopathy, for example.
Ah right you doubt what you observe but you believe what you cannot observe ....and its science that has git it wrong 😯
We don't need to do that, I still have a memory of the previous one.
Applause
Some interesting theing from Goedel on this
Basically no for very complicated reasons. Also we have uncertainty principle and non linear dynamics and various other things. Whilst we may understand the basic broad structure we wont understand everythiing - think weather for an example of how well we will do.
yes it will, you just have to live long enough 😀 and be really paitient for a few millenia
Maybe with quantum computers
No increased understanding leads to new questions
I suspect science will never be able to fully explain my wife's thought processes.
Unlikely.
[IMG] 
[/IMG]
A good place to start would be to work out what the hell this is supposed to be for...
Why do we need scientists anyway when there are hundreds of people who know the answers? We just have to get them to stop driving around London in taxis all day.
dinner?A good place to start would be to work out what the hell this is supposed to be for...
I know a forum that has the answer to everything.
Given that science is of the human construct,
... the answer is of course, no. We haven't got that long.
You know - a comet, or a caldera, or an incurable plague or whatever this universe thing throws our way.
If we survive our own collective stupidity.
Have a nice day.
Well we don't even know what size wheels to use on our bikes or even what tyres to put on them so I feel we are some distance from total knowledge
People can spout what they like about quantum physics hailing it as the absolute truth
No-one who understands it would ever say that!
Nice question. Just the other day I was discussing this with friend. She does not believe in life after death and she said that people who believe in something bigger than us are just gullable. She meant that if there are things we cannot explain it's just because science hasn't found the answer yet. If, for instance, people born in the middle age suddenly saw something working with electricity, they would probably think this is a miracle, but today we know there is an explenation to this. The same with everything else in the world. So basically, yes, there are people who firmly believe science will one day find all the answers. I am personally not really sure, to be honest.
most of the things it currently 'explains' is just a best guess model
Yep, scientists don't do certainties, you need inveterate gamblers and the religious for that.
of course there's often a hell of a lot of evidence for those best guesses.
Love that einstein quote.
There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened.
Douglas Adams
No we will never "know everything" The laws of physics (uncertainty principle, observable universe) make quite a lot of stuff completely unknowable
I'd settle for a good idea of what the other 96% of the universe is though