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The Universe in Black and White
What would you do if you were to find out that you and everything you know, see, and experience were nothing more than a hologram a projection of cosmic data. It sounds like something from the matrix trilogy but it is actually a possible scientific theory. If you know anything about physics you know that for the longest time physicists searched for a theory of everything. This theory is supposed to perfectly explain the universe and all the phenomena that occur within it and possibly just possible explain why.
One of the most promising candidates for this explanation has been quantum physics and string theory. Physicists starting in the early 20th century started to suspect the fundamentals of the physical universe may not be explained at the macroscale but at the micro subatomic scale. The branch of quantum physics called string theory is suspected as being one of the first steps to connecting the invisible building blocks of the universe to the manifestation of energy and matter we see and observe.
So why the idea of a holographic universe? It is rooted in the idea of quantum strings. According to string theory the basic building block of the universe is the string. This miniscule unit is supposed to be the basis of all matter and energy. However how it can be the source of both is even more interesting. String theorists believe that strings vibrate or resonate pretty much like a guitar or violin string. However instead of music or sound the resonance is matter and energy itself. If this is true then a set of vibrations produced by these strings make matter, energy, and even life itself. So what we touch,see, and probably even feel is like a simple projection or resonance of strings at the subatomic level.
One of the real expressions of this is the black hole paradox. This is the idea that when matter falls into a black hole it is not really lost. What actually happens is that the data of the resonance of these objects is preserved in the disturbances in the surface of the event horizon.
If you enjoyed this article there are others on Universe Today that you will find interesting. There is an interesting article about whether a light speed craft can become a black hole. There is also a great article on a method testing string theory.
You can also find some interesting resources online. There is an article on the possibility of a holographic universe on the Rutgers website. There is another great article on the subject and string theory on Pomona.edu.
You can also check out Astronomy Cast. Episode 138 is about Quantum Mechanics.
Source: Wikipedia
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