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We had explored
outer space (aliens), higher dimensions, other universes, our near and far
future (Advanced Intelligence), now let us turn to the stuffs in current
physics which are still unknown, yet to be fully discovered and explained
specifically: Dark Matter and Dark Energy. In fact, both of them together
compromises 95% of our universe’s
mass. We can only account for the 5% of normal mass in terms of matter and
radiation from observation and predictions of nuclear synthesis at the Big
Bang.
This seems
like a bit of embarrassment given the arrogance of the term “theory of everything” some physicists
proclaimed we are very close to discovering. First off, let us get to know what
we know and do not know about Dark Matter and Dark Energy. Dark Matter
compromises 27% of our universe’s mass, Dark Energy compromises 68%. The Dark
on their name implies our ignorance of their nature.
Most of
these comes from “We Have No Idea” by
Jorge Cham and Daniel Whiteson. Dark Matter was first proposed in the 1960s,
there are a few clues to propose that it exist.
●
Galaxies are spinning faster than it has visible mass for it to be
able to do so according to our current best theory of gravity. Galaxies need
more mass to be able to spin faster or else its stars would just fly off the
edge of the galaxies. There is not enough visible stars to account for that
mass, so a mysterious Dark Matter has to be added to keep the shape of
galaxies.
●
Gravitational lensing, which is the effect of light being bent by
massive objects in the middle which acts like lenses to focus the lights. So
observationally speaking, we see two same galaxies in a patch of space, just a
short distance from each other. The lights from the galaxies on its way here
had been gravitationally distorted by some Dark Matter in the middle.
●
Collision of galaxy clusters shows that the regular matter (stars)
gravitationally interact with each other, yet from gravitational lensing, we
see the dark matter in those galaxies seems to pass through each other.
Here’s what we know about Dark Matter:
1.
It has mass
2.
It is invisible
3.
It likes hanging out in galaxies
4.
Regular matter cannot touch it
5.
Other dark matter seems to cannot touch it either
6.
It seems to like to clump together
7.
Thus we are most likely already swimming in Dark Matter but we do
not know it, or see it.
Of the four
fundamental forces of nature, we know Dark Matter appears to only interact only
gravitationally. This is where the matter from Dark Matter comes from, it has
mass, inside its matter. As gravity is the weakest force in nature, it is very
hard to experimentally see Dark Matter in the lab, so physicists still have no
idea what Dark Matter is, there are plenty of candidates, but it is also likely
it is something entirely new.
Here are
some possible suggestions for Dark Matter:
1.
Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMP), which are particles
which interacts very weakly with normal matter. Neutrinos were once considered
before being discarded, other new particles yet undiscovered maybe these Dark
Matter, including supersymmetric particles. These new particles may interact
with each other so that they may produce dark atoms, dark chemistry, dark
biology, dark life and civilisation.
2.
Massive Astrophysical Compact Halo Objects (MACHO), which are
planet sized normal matter which does not emit its own light, so it remains
invisible to us. However, MACHO as Dark Matter has been discarded as
calculations from the Big Bang nuclear synthesis has shown that there is not
enough normal matter which can be produced them to account for all of the
masses of Dark Matter.
Now let us
look at Dark Energy. It was first proposed in 1998, when we first discovered
that our universe is accelerating its expansion instead of the expected slowing
down due to the pull of gravity. To be able to accelerate the expansion, there
must be a repulsive force, not only acting against the gravitationally pull of
all the matter in the universe to come back together, but strong enough to push
the universe to ever bigger size. It is also proposed as a result of our
confidence in the validity of general relativity.
Dark Energy
is the one which provides this repulsive force. It could be one of these
stuffs:
1.
The quantum vacuum fluctuation energy, but calculation shows that
the quantum vacuum fluctuation is of the order of 10120 bigger than
what we observe Dark Energy to be.
2.
Other new fields, which would be very hard to test if the
particles associated with the field has super high energy.
How do we
know the percentage of mass of our regular matter, dark matter and dark energy?
From these different ways which agree with each other:
i.
The Cosmic Microwave Background pattern is dependent on the ratio
of these stuffs in the universe, simulations and calculations using different
values of regular matter, dark matter and dark energy gives different patterns
which we do not observe in our sky.
ii.
From the rate of expansion of the universe, we can calculate how
much dark energy is needed to achieve that rate if we have some estimates of
regular and dark matter. This is the balance or rather imbalance of the pull of
gravity versus the push of dark energy.
iii.
From the structure of the universe we see today, using a computer
simulation, if we have too little dark matter, galaxies do not form in the same
shape or early enough as we observe. We can accurately know that we have 5%
regular matter, 27% dark matter and 68% dark energy.
In short, we
know Dark Matter and Dark Energy exists if general relativity is true for the
far range of our universe, but we do not know the nature of these stuffs like
we do regular matter. So there is no technology that we can build upon them.
Naturally, they are a bright candidate to put in the supernatural stuffs. However,
caution should be exercised as the nature of Dark Matter and Dark Energy would
one day be discovered and have no gods in them after all. If we keep on using
the strategy of hiding supernatural stuffs into the specific unknowns of
current science, we would look like the doomsday predictors; always delaying
their doomsday date to later dates when the current doomsday date comes and
goes without the world coming to an end. Having said that, let us see the
possibilities of gods as Dark Matter/ Dark Energy beings.
The most
attractive feature of this is that they compromise 95% of the mass of the
universe, if there are to be beings so advanced they can have so much power,
naturally they would choose to live as the more abundant resources in the
universe rather than competing for the mere 5% of regular matter for resource.
There is also speculation that advanced alien races may cloak themselves inside
dark matter or transform into dark matter to avoid the danger of gamma ray
burst or supernova explosion which might happen nearby, those would bring about
too much energy which would disrupt life on star systems nearby and possibly
even wipe life out from them. This is because Dark Matter seems invisible to
electromagnetic radiation, another attractive feature, just like the gods.
1.
Spontaneous rebirth: We have no idea if dark matter can interact
with itself as they seems to pass through each other in galactic collisions.
This might just indicate that they do not interact with each other
gravitationally, but does not rule out other new forces which acts between dark
matter particles. If they can form dark interactions with itself, have dark
chemistry, dark biology, dark life etc, their biology maybe so strange that
spontaneous rebirth is the norm for them.
If we take
the gods as Dark Energy beings, then using the equations of general relativity,
we know that Dark Energy density per unit volume is constant, so as our
universe expands, new Dark Energy comes into existence along with the new
space! This naturally accounts for the spontaneous rebirth, although now it
would be hard to define the boundaries of individual gods at that level.
However, we already skipped on that difficulty on the Brahmas as advanced
intelligence section. Besides that, many meditators also report that they do
feel that the boundary of their body as self is entirely arbitrary. At which
point does the in breath becomes the self? At which point does the stuffs we
eject from the body becomes not mine? At which point does the food we eat becomes
part of us? At which point does the things we read becomes part of us? There
are just causes and conditions and the self is merely an illusion, attachments
to the things we think of as mine, me, myself.
2.
Invisible, but can reveal themselves, or be seen via divine eye:
From the term dark, it would be pretty obvious that they are not visible to us.
It would be interesting if the divine eye can see dark matter and dark energy,
if so it would help out physics experimental research tremendously.
3.
Blissful, but not end of suffering: We have no idea. At least they
would feel the security of safety from the gamma ray burst and supernova
explosions if they are made of dark matter. If they are made of dark energy, at
least they would not dread the Big Rip of the universe, but rather are the
cause of it.
4.
Long life: We have no idea.
5.
Many levels: We have no idea.
6.
Superior powers, but limited knowledge: Unless they are aliens who
turned themselves into dark matter or dark energy beings and thus have superior
technological powers compared to us, we have no idea.
7.
Virtuous conduct needed to be reborn here: We have no idea.
8.
Powers of instant travelling: We have no idea.
9.
Luminous light shining forth from them: Pretty much impossible as
they are invisible to electromagnetic light already. Maybe to appear to us,
they transform into regular matter and in the process emit light. Or there are
dark light for dark matter beings. We have no idea.
10.
One for each world: This one seems reasonable if we define world
as galaxy instead of solar system. Each galaxy has their own dark matter which
stays with them even in galactic collisions. Thus if the gods are dark matter
beings, then they would follow their own world. Or maybe if we map the Dark
Matter beings as Brahmas so that their dominion is over so many world systems,
and under them are various other sensual desire realm gods localised to each
solar system.
Agganna
sutta would make sense then as the transformation of the gods from beings of
dark energy or dark matter into regular matter from the process of eating
regular matter food, or maybe the food is made of dark matter, so dark matter
can interact with themselves to produce regular matter.
Possible
experimental verification: If Dark Matter can interact with normal matter in
other ways other than gravitationally, then we
might be able to discover some Dark Matter from particle accelerator
collision, some of the energy may go into producing the new particles which
compromises Dark Matter. Another way is to use cold compressed noble gasses and
surround them with detectors which goes off if it bumps into Dark Matter.
Another way is to point our telescopes to places where we know there is a high Dark
Matter concentration. If Dark Matters can interact with each other, then they
might be able to produce normal matter which we can observe. So far Dark Matter
is still dark to us.
Likelihood
of gods as dark matter/ dark energy beings if eventually we discover that their
dark matter and dark energy allows for intelligent life to exist and general
relativity does not get replaced by some other gravitational theories which
does not require dark matter and dark energy: (I use 50 for unknown or
uncertain factors)
1.
Spontaneous rebirth: 50%
2.
Invisible, but can reveal themselves, or be seen via divine eye:
99%
3.
Blissful, but not end of suffering: 50%
4.
Long life: 50%
5.
Many levels: 50%
6.
Superior powers, but limited knowledge: 50%
7.
Virtuous conduct needed to be reborn here: 50%
8.
Powers of instant travelling: 50%
9.
Luminous light shining forth from them: 50%
10.
One for each world: 89%
Total possibilities: (product of all ten scores
after converting them to probabilities): 0.3442% We are also in the dark
regarding the possibilities of gods as dark matter/ dark energy beings.