Create the universe ... in the laboratory

Scientists are seriously discussing the possibility of creating a new universe in the laboratory. This is mainly a philosophical discussion but many scientists agree that it may one day become reality.

The idea of ​​"stealing" the ability to create the universe from the hand of God?

In 1991 Andrei Linde, space researcher at Stanford University published a study titled "Creating a new universe - a difficult art" in Nuclear Physics B.

In it, he mentioned the possibility of creating a laboratory universe : a whole new universe that could one day contain stars, planets and intelligent life forms. Many people believe that this is a blasphemous joke, because religious people may feel offended by scientists trying to steal the ability to create the universe from the hand of God.

Because of the attack, Linde changed the title of the article but still maintained the view: the universe could be reestablished by outstanding scientists. He said: "I don't think this is simply a joke."

A quarter of a century has passed and this issue has been increasingly taken seriously.

Those who criticized Linde were right to give much attention to his research, but they misplaced the question. The problem is not who can be offended by the formation of the universe, but what will happen if it becomes true? How will we solve theological problems? And what kind of moral responsibilities will people take if they play the role of the Founding One?

Create a new universe.(Photo: NASA).

There are many issues to discuss

In 1980, cosmologist Alex Vilenkin of Tufts University, Massachusetts, proposed a mechanism that could create an expanding universe from a state without time, space and matter. There is a principle established in quantum theory that pairs of particles can appear in empty space.

Don Page - the physicist and Protestant believer at the University of Alberta in Canada also said: "What is special is that our universe is created from a state of nothing. However, from the point of view of Linde, physicists can mold the universe in a high-tech laboratory with the help of modern machines ".

The creation of the universe also requires the presence of a particle called 'monopole' (hypothesized to exist in some physical models, but has not yet been found). The idea that if we can transmit enough energy to a monopole, it will start to expand. Instead of developing the size in our true universe, the expanded monopole will bend space-time inside the accelerator and create a tunnel leading to a separate space.

From the laboratory, we only see the mouth of the tunnel; it will appear as a small and harmless black hole. But if we can go into that tunnel, we will get to the fledgling universe that we created.

It is hard to believe that the best physicists plus the most modern machines, can create the universe from nothingness. Researcher Page said that Linde's proposal was really bold, but it was no less dramatic.

Another issue also gained much attention, namely: the current theories show that, once we create a new universe, we are almost incapable of controlling its evolution as well. like hidden dangers for residents living there. Does it make us irresponsible and careless?

Guendelman researcher has a rather liberal view of this issue. He likened the scientists' responsibility to creating a new universe just as a parent's responsibility to decide to give birth: they all know for sure when the 'child' is born, it will have to face with both joy and sadness there.

Other physicists are more cautious. Nobuyuki Sakai of Yamaguchi University in Japan (one of the theorists who proposed the idea of ​​using monopole particles to create the universe) said: "The formation of the universe is a thorny problem that we must pay more attention in the future ".

Mr. Sakai did not give much consideration to the moral aspect of this story. Although he is working on calculations to create a new universe, he notes that it will take several decades to do such an experiment, so it is too early to argue about ethics.

Contrary to this idea, Anders Sandberg, a philosopher at Oxford University, pondered a lot about the moral meaning of creating artificial life with computer simulations. He argues that the emergence of intelligent life forms, in any form, has its own values ​​that we must pay attention to and consider when creating.

The human universe cannot be created immediately, but one thing that everyone agrees about is: all scientists in all fields have the freedom to express their opinions on this issue.