First, I think these questions are brilliant. When he formulated them no one knew whether the universe had a beginning or not. Today, we know that the universe is 13.8 billion years old, but I still think his questions are worth contemplating. For example, we do not know whether our universe is all there is, or whether there is a larger reality of which our universe is a small part. Could it still be that the universe (or larger reality) has existed forever?
I am not familiar with the physics involved, but from my limited understanding, we can only measure time as it exists in our universe, because it's the only metric we have. How then, if we were somehow able to detect other universes (and how would that work, if the ways in which we measure things have no meaning um . . . between universes?) how would we be able to tell when they came into existence in relation to our own? Or would "when" not really apply? I have also wondered about intelligent extra-terrestrial life and the time between the Big Bang and the present. For example, how long did it take for the universe to be able to host life as we know it, or life at all? What if we are the first intelligent species? What if we are the last? What if we haven't found any aliens because we do not exist at the same time that other intelligent species existed/will exist? Also, imagine if in the future, human scientists were to find the remains of some kind of interplanetary (or larger) civilization. What might that look like? Lastly, what if reality does not appear to be the same throughout the universe? For example, what if time runs differently in other sectors, for whatever reason? I understand that my lines of thinking are running into science fiction, but the more I read about the universe, the stranger it seems.
Yes, I think this is right. Space and time themselves came into existence during the first microseconds of the Big Bang (we think). I have no idea how we could detect other universes to be honest. Some think that it may be possible to see the effects of another universe on our own. I'm not sure if quantum mechanical experiments can empirically prove the existence of a multiverse. Some think that is possible as well. I think if we were able to demonstrate this we would have to concede that there was something more than space and time as a fundamental structure of reality. We would need a new concept. I think we already do need a new concept to describe the medium in which a hypothetical multiverse would exist. Maybe this medium would be truly infinite. This is a key question that I give considerable thought. I think that life could not have existed in the first 2 billion years of the universe's existence. I'm not sure if we should suspect life to have existed before 4-5 billion years either. I think it is probable that we are the first in the Milky Way. I think it is probable that other galaxies have intelligent species but we can't see them because we are only able to see old galaxies. We see light from galaxies as they were billions of years ago. Those galaxies could be teaming with intelligent life right now but we can't detect them right now. Some have considered the possibility that time itself evolves and changes as a function of entropy. I don't know enough yet to say what I think about this, but I'm leaning towards probable. This is healthy. This is good.we can only measure time as it exists in our universe
if we were somehow able to detect other universes (and how would that work, if the ways in which we measure things have no meaning um . . . between universes?) how would we be able to tell when they came into existence in relation to our own? Or would "when" not really apply?
For example, how long did it take for the universe to be able to host life as we know it, or life at all?
What if we are the first intelligent species?
What if we haven't found any aliens because we do not exist at the same time that other intelligent species existed/will exist? Also, imagine if in the future, human scientists were to find the remains of some kind of interplanetary (or larger) civilization. What might that look like?
what if reality does not appear to be the same throughout the universe? For example, what if time runs differently in other sectors, for whatever reason?
I understand that my lines of thinking are running into science fiction, but the more I read about the universe, the stranger it seems.
I hadn't really thought of that, even though it's something I knew! Though, if we do exist contemporaneously with other intelligent species, it would make me wonder if we are in some kind of optimal time for intelligent species to exist and why this would be so. In such a big place, it's no wonder it's easy to be self-absorbed.I think it is probable that other galaxies have intelligent species but we can't see them because we are only able to see old galaxies. We see light from galaxies as they were billions of years ago. Those galaxies could be teaming with intelligent life right now but we can't detect them right now.
I believe this to be the case, although there is no empirical way to test it yet. This is likely to be so because of the way the universe has evolved. The universe is now filled with medium-sized (long lasting) stars surrounded by a rich abundance of chemicals (for planets and organisms). This wasn't the case in the early universe and it may not have been the case until 7-8 billion years after the Big Bang. If this is true, we should expect to see "intelligence explosions" or as I have termed it "civilization pulses" within each (or most) island universes (e.g., galaxies) over the next few billion years.it would make me wonder if we are in some kind of optimal time for intelligent species to exist and why this would be so.