Is the Universe simple, or complex?
Galaxy NGC 4414
The confounding answer is, the Universe is simple in it’s complexity, and complex in its simplicity.
For those of you who haven’t punched me in the nose yet, read on.
A matter of perspective
Of course, an answer to the simple / complex Universe question depends on how you’re looking at the Universe.
- Are you looking at it microscopically, from the vantage point of amoeba?
- Atomically, from inside the nucleus of an atom?
- Or, how about from the edge of our solar system, or edge of the Milky Way galaxy?
Each view shows different activities and suggests different answers.
Searching for patterns
Oceanic storm waves
In the midst of what seems chaotic, we can often discern patterns once we stabilize our view.
- Wave patterns on top of the seemingly-random ocean can be boiled down to numerous harmonic patterns added together.
- Weather patterns depend largely on the constant redistribution of heat and the spinning of the earth, amongst other things. I’d venture every weather factor has a relatively-simple law of physics behind it — we just cannot yet build a weather forecasting computer because there are an overwhelming number of discreet systems that add up to what we see — from our perspective — as “weather.”
- The site of a crumpled afghan or piece of clothing doesn’t appear to contain patterns — until you smooth out the material and can appreciate its weave or knit-stitch.
Patterns are everywhere. I don’t think you can name one thing that I cannot find several patterns in.
What’s with all the circles and mirrors?
As you start looking for patterns, you might notice two very common things:
- Symmetry
- Circles
Symmetry
Just look in the mirror. Your body is a great example of symmetry. Your left side is, in many ways, a mirror image of your right side. This even holds true for some components on the inside of your body. Any differences are a result of the execution of this intended symmetry as you grow and attempt to survive. Perhaps some nutritional factor, injury, or birth defect caused one side to develop differently than the other. Rest assured, though, that our messenger RNA is supposed to be carrying blueprints that often result in symmetrical body parts.
More symmetry
Where else can you find symmetry? There are other kinds. Your body example is bilateral symmetry, but there is also radial symmetry, with the classic starfish example. What about trees? I’d venture to say that a tree’s basic growth instructions, in a perfect world, would result in a symmetrical structure — two identical halves. That doesn’t happen, though, so what gives?
The growth of a tree seems random and chaotic because the direction and size of growth is constantly dependent on a number of factors, such as:
- Sunlight direction (Remember phototropism from grade school science?)
- Sunlight intensity
- Dark / Light period balance
- Availability of water
- Availability and quality of nutrients
- Temperature
- Lots more…
All these factors add up to growth that appears random. I argue, though, that each of these factors has a pattern of their own. The fractal growth of a tree results from blueprints for a balance, symmetrical organism that has all these other growth-affecting patterns superimposed.
Circles everywhere
If you can appreciate symmetry, then around the same time you’ll probably notice how prevalent circles and circular motion are in our world. Sometimes we think of this hairy caveman accidentally discovering the wheel, but I’m pretty sure it was inevitable, because circular shapes and motion are natural. They happen by themselves, no happy accidents necessary.
Circles to think about
- Wheels and gears are one great example.
- Knobs, dials, gauges, faucets — in one way or another, they all have at least one radial component.
- Your eyes
- Galaxies, solar systems, orbits, planets — get celestial!
- Atomic and subatomic particles — go micro!
Circles keep it together
Imagine a line, and that line contains all the energy in the Universe. Energy and mass are theoretically interchangeable, so our imaginary line contains the entire Universe.
You may remember from geometry class that a line keeps going in both directions for infinity. If you spread all the energy in the Universe out over an infinite distance, then, the discernible result would be zero, nada, nothing, zilch. Like spreading a tablespoon of peanut butter on a piece of bread the size of Manhattan — it amounts to nothing, skippy.
Take our imaginary line, though, and bend it over into a circle. Now, all that energy in the Universe has a real container. You don’t really know where the two ends of the line connect — because there is no such thing as an end to a line — but in theory, you now have contained all that line’s energy in an enclosed system. All the energy of that line is now bound up somewhere along the circumference of our new circle.
Static systems
The Universe could be viewed as one big circle, then — a circle (sphere, really) comprising a finite amount of energy and mass in various states. If we could see the sphere of the Universe, then perhaps it would be a perfect sphere.
The Universe is made of other circular and spherical systems, though. Galaxies, for instance. We could change perspective and focus on just one galaxy. Indeed, there is a circular nature to each different shape of galaxy, but none are perfect circles. What’s the deal?
Each galaxy is being pushed and pulled by the gravity of other galaxies. The only perfect sphere you’ll find, then, is by changing your perspective to view the entire sum of the Universe.
What about perfect circles here on Earth? What about the perfect bowling ball? They may appear to be perfect circles all by themselves, but they are not. They are only perfect circles here on Earth, and their perfection depends on the Earth’s gravity, our Moon’s gravity, and a number of other factors that I don’t even want to start trying to wrap my brain around. Indeed, if you had a sub-atomically perfect sphere here on Earth and moved it to, say, Jupiter, it would no longer be a perfect sphere. To the naked eye, it might appear the same, but with subatomic measurements, you could tell the difference.
Why it all matters
It doesn’t matter! In our day-to-day lives, none of this really matters. You can’t control it. You can’t use it to your advantage. But when you wonder about life and meaning, maybe you shouldn’t ignore how so many things are symmetrical and round.
It seems there is some power in circles.
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Orthogonal circle
At the large scale of the universe and galaxies, all the way down to sub-atomic particles, we find circles and orbits containing all discernible energy.
- Why is π (pi) so elusive?
- Why is the divine proportion (golden ratio) so common?
(And why do we find its result pleasing?)
I wish I knew some unifying theory that tied it all together, but for now, I’ll have to be content to just wonder.
