Well the universe isn’t matter, so it doesn’t have states of matter, it hypothetically has “states” in that its constants related to the laws of physics could possibly change due either to changing over time, false vacuum decay, and if the bang cycle turns out to be true, infinite iteration.
There’s some math to suggest it’s donut shaped though!
When I framed the question it wasn’t exactly clear how i wanted to get my point across so I just threw in the states of matter as an example. I just am not sure how to ask without confusing people.
I get that the universe isn’t matter and don’t expect it to behave like matter but I just am curious about the idea.
Can we talk about time dilation for a second?
Time dilation happens as a result of gravity. Larger the mass the larger the gravitational force and time, relative to smaller celestial bodies, moves slower. Given my own primitive understanding let’s say due to scale of the universe, in our perception of the universe, time is basically held still. Suppose If we could observe the universe at a scale relative to its entire volume. It may only take a moment to see all of existence happen.
Going back my original brain fart, under these circumstances do you think it would be possible to observe the universe fundamentally change in nature? We know matter can go to different energy levels and such.
I think I know the answer on a basic level and we refer to it as the big bang or a singularity. Except what if the singularity wasn’t just a linear or cyclic process but had to do with something greater?
I’m probably not the first to ponder this stuff and my assumptions are probably all bunk but just bored. Thanks for humouring me.
One edge theory I saw — I believe related to the Hubble constant — was proposing the laws of physics changing over time (e.g. what if the speed of light were faster/slower in the younger universe).
Best we can tell, yes. At extremely high energy densities, the fundamental forces become obvious to be aspects of the same force. EM combines with the weak force (creatively called the electro-weak force), even higher and the strong force becomes linked. The only one we can’t link, so far, is gravity. It’s either fundamentally different, or we just haven’t pumped enough energy into a small enough space yet.
Scaling up, the universe has a weird property, it’s almost exactly the same temperature everywhere. Given what we know about the big bang, that should be impossible. The “explosion” would have been so violent that the various parts, limited by the speed of light, wouldn’t have been able to communicate. Our best theory is that space-time itself was in a different “phase”. It was capable of expansion faster than light. Eventually the energy density dropped, and space “crystallised” into what we have now. The echoes of this are imprinted into the cosmic background radiation.
Interestingly, there is a loose idea that our current space-time might not be the lowest state. If the first shift was equivalent to gas-to-liquid, then there might be a “solid” phase of space time. In this theory, the universe could be in a supercritical state. Once any 1 point changes, the change will propagate out at the speed of light. We would never even see it coming, until the laws of physics changed. Considering how tied chemistry is to the exact nature of spacetime, such a change would almost certainly be incompatible with earth life.
I don’t think I understand the question.
I don’t know. Matter is made of space; the universe is made of space. If the universe was part of some sort of cosmic matter could the nature of the universe suddenly changes as a part of some greater phase change?
Matter is made of space
Well here’s the issue, matter isn’t made of space. By definition, matter is not space, because space is nothing, and matter is something. Relatively speaking there’s a lot of space in between the matter of an object (ie space between water molecules or even space between the protons/neutrons and electrons), but matter itself is not space.
Well the universe isn’t just empty space either??
That’s true too. Maybe I’m not sure what you mean by “the universe”.
The universe is a big thing filled with a lot of other big things but a huge huge majority of it is just empty space. So I guess picture an inflated balloon, but instead of being filled with air it’s just empty space. Inside this balloon there’s some water droplets, some sand, and a few pockets of gases.
Which part you’re referring to as “the universe” would change the answer. If the universe is the balloon, well, we don’t even know what the balloon is or to what extent it “exists” for lack of a better term, so I can’t really say. If the universe is everything inside the balloon, each thing has different properties but of course can change state of matter (except the space - there’s no matter to change the state of). If the universe is all of it put together, a bit of one and two. I’d say it’d be like asking, “can I change the state of matter of this cup of water with metal beads in it?” There’s already multiple states of matter involved, and changing them will have varying requirements (lowering temp would freeze the water but won’t change anything for the metal for example).
Should be noted that I’m obviously not an expert on the subject of, er, the universe.
In Hindu cosmology they have something called the Yuga cycles where the state of the universe seems to change over time and generally becomes more chaotic (one might say going from “solid” to “gaseous” over time) and I think time runs quicker as things generally spiral out of control. Each Yuga in the cycle is 1/4 shorter than the previous, so it works out to a 4:3:2:1 ratio. However, I’m not an expert and only first heard of it from Alan Watts and looked up the wikipedia article.
A Yuga Cycle (a.k.a. chatur yuga, maha yuga, etc.) is a cyclic age (epoch) in Hindu cosmology. Each cycle lasts for 4,320,000 years (12,000 divine years) and repeats four yugas (world ages): Krita (Satya) Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dvapara Yuga, and Kali Yuga.
As a Yuga Cycle progresses through the four yugas, each yuga’s length and humanity’s general moral and physical state within each yuga decrease by one-fourth. Kali Yuga, which lasts for 432,000 years, is believed to have started in 3102 BCE. Near the end of Kali Yuga, when virtues are at their worst, a cataclysm and a re-establishment of dharma occur to usher in the next cycle’s Krita (Satya) Yuga, prophesied to occur by Kalki.
The universe is made of stuff, and that stuff can have different states, so yes? If you’re talking about space-time, then no.
This is an interesting question. Unfortunately, there are stupid people trying to be funny and mods don’t do anything. Time to quit this sub
I would imagine that there are probably more than the four states of matter we currently know about. Maybe one day we’ll find out.
There already are:
Public school education of the 90s has failed me lol. Thank you!
There are more than 4 states of matter?
Bose-Einstein condensate
solid
liquid
gas
plasma
5 that I know of, in order of temperature. Maybe others??
There are dozens, though the four (solid, liquid, gas, plasma) are considered the “fundamental” states.
But non-Newtonian fluids (like cornstarch mixed with water) and stuff like superconductors don’t fit into the simpler definitions, so there are lots (and even more proposed).
I was going to add stuff like the crap inside neutron stars, and quark-gluon plasma, but figured since it wasn’t the same stuff anymore it’s not really a phase. If you take those two items and just relieve the pressure and temperature, you’re not guaranteed to get what you started with.
Maybe others??
The virtual state.
That is, when it is just made up. It is the most important state nowadays.
I like to think our universe is the atom of a 7th dimensional beings 1988 Chrysler New Yorker with a certain feature that is simply the best.
Even a cow has all of these. Solid legs, fluid milk, nice smelling gases.
So why shouldn’t the universe.
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Hey if our butts can do it, I’m sure the universe can too.
The universe is a giant plasma fart.
