by Scott Kaelen
Imagine the universe does collapse into a monster of a black hole… Imagine that all of the compressed matter and energy becomes a smaller, condensed universe. Perhaps such a universe could exist even in the centre of a larger universe, if another big bang occurred. Perhaps at the very centre of our universe – right now – there is another universe hidden away within the unknowable heart of the cosmos.
Many theories talk about mini universes, and the smaller the universe the more it has to bow down in deference to its larger sibling or parent. Just as with moons and planets and stars and galaxies, even universes are governed by gravity, not just in three dimensions, but in any and every dimension imaginable.
Here we are, safe within our Universe, which itself could be safe within a black hole that is only a small part of a Multiverse, which in turn could be just one bubble of existence inside a Superverse, which may exist in a small spot of a Hyperverse – a Hyperverse which might just be one of an infinite amount of hyper-bubbles floating around within an endless Omniverse…
And, as everyone knows, the destiny of all bubbles is to eventually burst.
So much for the fish.
THE CHRONOLOGY OF COSMIC UNDERSTANDING
The following brief list shows how humanity has evolved its belief and understanding of the world under its feet and the sky over its heads.
Disproven: The Earth was flat.
Disproven: The Earth was a perfect sphere.
Disproven: The Sun was a divine deity.
Disproven: The Sun and Moon and ‘wandering stars’ orbited the Earth.
Disproven: The Earth was the centre of the universe.
Under long-term debate: The Earth was built by a cosmic architect.
Disproven: The Earth was made 4,000 years ago.
Disproven: The Earth was 75,000 years old.
Disproven: The Earth was 96 million years old.
Disproven: The Earth was up to 400 million years old.
Disproven: The (Observable) Universe was eternal.
Disproven: The Earth was up to 1.3 billion years old.
Proven: The Universe is expanding. (Early 20th century.)
Disproven: The Earth was up to 3 billion years old. (Early 20th century. Getting there…)
Disproven: The oldest stars were up to 25 billion years old. (Mid 20th century.)
Disproven: The Earth was 4.55 ± 0.07 billion years old. (Mid 20th century. Now we’re nitpicking.)
Accurate model: The Earth is 4.54 ± 0.05 billion years old. (Present day. Now we’re just smoothing out the creases.)
Current model: The Universe was born 13.798 ± 0.037 billion years ago from the Big Bang.
Current fact: The Observable Universe is 93 billion light years in diameter.
Current theory: The Actual Universe may be infinite.
Fact: Recent observations of the Universe have pushed the boundaries of current theories.
Current theory: Beyond the Observable Universe may be other areas of the Universe born from other Big Bangs.
Current theory: M theory suggests the existence of 11 spatial dimensions.
Hypothesis: Theoretical physics suggests bubble universes may exist beyond the Known Universe.
When I try to conjure a map of the Observable Universe in my head, this is how I do it:
1. I look down at the Earth from orbit.
2. I zoom out to beyond the Solar System.
3. I zoom outside of the Milky Way.
4. I go further, beyond our cluster of galaxies including the Cigar Galaxy and Andromeda Galaxy, until I see the whole Local Group – a cluster of more than 50 galaxies.
5. I travel even further out until I can see the entire Virgo Supercluster which contains over 100 galactic clusters, of which the Local Group is just one.
6. I keep going until the Virgo Supercluster is joined by the Centaurus Supercluster and the Fornax Wall, combining to form an as yet unnamed Great Wall (let’s call it the Virgo Great Wall).
7. I speed out further, far and away, until the Virgo Great Wall is a tiny smudge of light and the rest of my view is taken up with millions of galactic walls and superclusters. This is the Observable Universe as it stands today.
Within this cosmic tapestry, 10 billion light years from Earth, the Hercules-Corona Borealis Great Wall dominates a vast area of the observable universe. It’s a gargantuan structure that absolutely dwarfs the Virgo Supercluster and its neighbours. The very existence of H-CB defies the current model of the known universe; it’s just too massive to have existed as it did 10 billion years ago when the universe was only 3.8 billion years old.
If a Big Bang can occur, and if the universe is infinite, then the resulting expansion from a Big Bang could never fill the universe. Therefore, I postulate that a universe of infinite space-time has a near-infinite probability of birthing a near-infinite amount of Big Bangs, and perhaps H-CB is the result (in full or in part) of a Big Bang other than the one responsible for the rest of the Observable Universe. But then, what we know as a universe would no longer merely be a universe, would it?
I speculate that existence is either infinite or so much greater in size and dimension than our current understanding of it that it dwarfs the Known Universe to a factor of many degrees. Okay, the Big Bang did happen; there’s enough evidence in the visible universe to prove that. But beyond the fringes of what we can observe? Beyond the cosmic cusp that seems utterly devoid of any galaxies? If the universe at its simplest is a blank yet infinite or near-infinite canvas, then the likelihood of other Big Bangs occurring elsewhere across this amazing expanse has a near-infinite probability margin – the same odds as sentient life existing elsewhere in the cosmos.
The universe we know – the part created by the Big Bang – is expanding today as fast as it was expanding 10.8 billion years ago. It slowed down, but sped up again a few billion years ago. The problem with the ‘infinite universe’ theory is that it’s built on top of the Big Bang theory, and makes the presumption that infinite space could occur from a singular event in space-time. I don’t buy into that theory, just as I don’t buy into previously debunked theories, but as a working model it’s fine for now so long as we don’t take it as gospel (and there you were thinking we might get through just one essay without a single mention of religion!)
An infinite existence could theoretically comprise of five major levels of complexity. However, this is just conjecture, since there are no theoretical models to lend weight to my hypothesis.
This is the build:
1. Universe
2. Multiverse
3. Superverse
4. Hyperverse
5. Omniverse
Any further, and we’re delving deeper into areas where quantum and spatial mechanics become so warped from anything we can yet give a theoretical model to, that any speculation lies deep in the realms of high science fiction and fantasy.
WORLD POPULATION RISE
(FROM 1 MILLION TO OVER 11 BILLION)
These statistics, from the Dawn of Man to the end of the 21st century, are gathered from a number of sources and show the increase in Earth’s human population. I compiled these figured because I couldn’t find a single source which was anywhere near so complete.
The population crisis is a big problem that isn’t going away, and yet so few people care about it. This is probably because it’s only just beginning to be significantly recognised, and for the generations currently alive it’s not quite as big a deal as it’s going to be in the decades to come for our future generations.
Whenever I hear of someone proudly telling the people in their little bubble of reality that they’ve just brought their third, fourth, fifth or sixth (ad nauseum) child into the world, I bristle slightly knowing how clueless these people are when it comes to Earth’s bigger issues.
I should point out at this juncture that if we watched the statistics go further back in time to before the population reached one million, we would not finally arrive at Adam and Eve. The Creationism th
eory is utterly laughable, and very worthy of ridicule and satire. So worthy, in fact, that I wrote a short story about it.
But not to digress. Let’s witness the rise…
Year Population
10,000 BC 1 Million
9,500 BC 2 Million
9,000 BC 3 Million
8,500 BC 4 Million
8,000 BC 5 Million
Year Population
7,500 BC 5 Million
7,000 BC 5 Million
6,500 BC 5 Million
6,000 BC 5 Million
5,500 BC 5 Million
5,000 BC 5 Million
4,500 BC 6 Million
4,000 BC 7 Million
3,500 BC 10 Million
3,000 BC 14 Million
2,500 BC 20 Million
2,000 BC 27 Million
1,500 BC 38 Million
1,000 BC 50 Million
500 BC 100 Million
1 AD 170 Million
500 AD 190 Million
1000 AD 254 Million
1500 AD 425 Million
1650 500 Million
1750 700 Million
1804 1 Billion
Now watch what happens…
Year Population
1850 1.2 Billion
1900 1.6 Billion
1927 2 Billion
It took 11,650 years for humanity to swell from a million to half a billion, then a mere fifty years to double to 1 billion. Then, in scarcely more than a century, the population doubled to 2 billion, despite global conflicts and other factors such as epidemics and natural disasters.
Year Population Growth %
1950 2,556,000,000 1.47
1951 2,594,000,000 1.61
1952 2,636,000,000 1.70
1953 2,681,000,000 1.77
1954 2,729,000,000 1.86
1955 2,780,000,000 1.88
1956 2,833,000,000 1.95
1957 2,889,000,000 1.93
1958 2,945,000,000 1.76
1959 2,997,000,000 1.39
1960 3,039,000,000 1.33
It took less than 100 years to reach the 3 billion milestone. In fact, it took considerably less time – 3 decades.
Year Population Growth %
1961 3,080,000,000 1.80
1962 3,136,000,000 2.19
1963 3,205,000,000 2.19
1964 3,276,000,000 2.08
1965 3,345,000,000 2.07
1966 3,416,000,000 2.02
1967 3,485,000,000 2.04
1968 3,557,000,000 2.07
1969 3,631,000,000 2.05
1970 3,707,000,000 2.07
1971 3,784,000,000 2.01
1972 3,861,000,000 1.96
1973 3,937,000,000 1.91
1974 4,013,000,000 1.81
Halving the aforementioned three decades, the population surpassed the 4 billion milestone. But this was the 60s and 70s, right? Surely there existed no better excuse, with so-called ‘free love’ roaming rampant?
Year Population Growth %
1975 4,086,000,000 1.75
1976 4,158,000,000 1.72
1977 4,231,000,000 1.69
1978 4,303,000,000 1.73
1979 4,378,000,000 1.71
1980 4,454,000,000 1.69
1981 4,530,000,000 1.75
1982 4,610,000,000 1.73
1983 4,690,000,000 1.68
1984 4,770,000,000 1.68
1985 4,850,000,000 1.68
1986 4,933,000,000 1.72
1987 5,018,000,000 1.71
1988 5,105,000,000 1.67
1989 5,191,000,000 1.66
In scarcely more than a decade, the next milestone of 5 billion was smashed in short order.
Year Population Growth %
1990 5,278,000,000 1.56
1991 5,361,000,000 1.54
1992 5,444,000,000 1.50
1993 5,526,000,000 1.45
1994 5,606,000,000 1.43
1995 5,687,000,000 1.39
1996 5,766,000,000 1.39
1997 5,847,000,000 1.34
1998 5,926,000,000 1.31
1999 6,004,000,000 1.28
Again, in less than 15 years we hit the next milestone. 6 billion is the number many people today will still give you if you ask them what they think the world population is. We hurtled beyond 6 billion at the turn of the millennium. In just 50 years the population rocketed from 2.5 billion to a staggering 6 billion. But, like cancerous cells, we still weren’t content…
Year Population Growth %
2000 6,081,000,000 1.25
2001 6,158,000,000 1.24
2002 6,234,000,000 1.22
2003 6,311,000,000 1.20
2004 6,387,000,000 1.18
2005 6,462,000,000 1.16
2006 6,538,000,000 1.15
2007 6,613,000,000 1.14
2008 6,689,000,000 1.13
2009 6,765,000,000 1.11
2010 6,840,000,000 1.10
2011 6,916,000,000 1.09
2012 6,992,000,000 1.07
2013 7,067,000,000 1.05
Maintaining the now fashionable growth-over-time rise, the population pushed beyond the 7 billion milestone, again in less than 1.5 decades. And still it continues its inexorable climb…
Year Population
2014 7,141,000,000
2015 7,215,000,000
2016 7,400,000,000
The above pre-2016 forecasts from several years ago roll on to the current 2016 estimation by the World Population Clock of almost 7,400,000,000. On, then, into the future…
Year Population
2025 8,000,000,000
Statistical forecasts show we’ll have bypassed a global population of more than eight billion by the mid-2020s. At this juncture it will be obvious that the planet is struggling to cope with the demands placed on it by the spreading infestation of humans. But we won’t take heed of the warning signs…
Year Population
2030 8,300,000,000
2035 8,600,000,000
2040 8,900,000,000
2045 9,200,000,000
At this point there should be a very slight decrease in the annual percentage of population growth, for several reasons including not enough food and water for everyone, a constant reduction in trees and other plant-life essential for an ecosystem capable of maintaining life on Earth, and the density of gathered ‘pocket’ populations approaching their manageable limits. But will we learn? Let’s see…
Year Population
2050 9,700,000,000
2075 10,600,000,000
2100 11,200,000,000
More than 50 years this time to jump from over nine and a half billion to over eleven billion. No, we don’t learn, we just push the limits to even higher extremes. The growth will still be slowing, albeit marginally, but it is not obvious by looking at these figures, because while the percentage population growth will diminish slightly, the actual amount of more people on the planet could remain at an almost constant annual rate. One of the main reasons for the slowdown will be the increase in the annual death percentage; many of the dead will be babies and young children due to the appalling conditions of the highly-populated areas.
Many people believe the population level could potentially peak at somewhere between 10 and 12 billion. There are multiple contributing factors to this theory, but the main reasons are ever-dwindling fuel supplies, an ever-increasing food demand, a lack of resources in general, and increasingly fewer areas of untainted nature as urban areas continue to spread. The average temperature will have risen across the globe, including the polar regions. Global economy will likely be at crisis level. In short, the future for the planet Earth and the human race is a rather grim one, and one of the biggest reasons is the birth-to-death ratio of one single creature – homo sapiens.
But perhaps we shouldn’t really worry too much about all this. After all, Earth has always held a card up its sleeve for these sorts of situations…
LEAVING EARTH
(GOODBYE, RELIGION?)
Imagine a complete split between t
heists and non-theists, each to their own planet. Consider it for a moment, if you will. A frightening possibility, or a welcome prospect?
It depends on which side of the proverbial fence you’re sitting. As someone who finds the prospect of prayer and deification to be deplorable, I’d be happy to live somewhere devoid of people who insist on bowing down in obeisance to a ‘higher’ entity, who worship the vague stories of a man as if he were a god, who insist on remaining naive to the machinations of the universe and its galaxies of undiscovered phenomena. I’d be equally happy to be rid of all those who do understand the fundamentals of the universe and the systems of organisation therein, but who refuse to see that such knowledge must surely nullify any and every god theory.
I would gladly join all other non-theists in leaving Earth and re-colonising on a planet orbiting a distant star – let’s say Alpha Centauri, given its proximity to us – and leave all the theists to inherit the Earth as they see fit. But, you know what? Even if there weren’t a single atheist on the planet, the religious would still have their wars and terrorise each other, and the ultimate fate of mankind on Earth would be complete desolation. Why? Because that is the way of religion. And it’s not surprising, since the Bible contains more atrocities (committed by God and by his believers) than any other literature in the history of writing, except probably the Quran.
Meanwhile, over on New Earth, or whatever name you’d like to choose for our hypothetical planet, the atheists – the men and women of science, logic, and free will – are getting on quite famously together and are on the verge of learning how to create a planet which will orbit the nearby Beta Centauri, and they’re learning how to inject into said planet an atmosphere and ecosystem, and create life in the form of trees and beasts, and to create another creature, this one in their own image…
As the millennia pass, the men and women of New Earth will keep a distant watch on their creations over on their engineered planet circling their binary system’s smaller star, but those creations will likely follow in the same footsteps of Old Earth’s ancient men, and begin worshipping that which they do not understand.
Such is the cycle of stupidity destined to repeat itself…
And repeat…
