\nCertain mathematical equations contain unnerving dangers, Arguably, E=mc^2 is the most famous equation in science. C is a very large number. But in Einstein’s, equation it is squared. This means that mass contains an insane amount of...\nCertain mathematical equations contain unnerving dangers, Arguably, E=mc^2 is the most famous equation in science. C is a very large number. But in Einstein’s, equation it is squared. This means that mass contains an insane amount of energy. It means that 1 kilogram of mass, about the weight of a large pineapple, has more than a thousand times the energy of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. Scientists believe that just 100 nuclear bombs would be enough to destroy most of human civilization.
The equation for the Higgs potential is crucial in particle physics because it explains how elementary particles gain mass, and plays a role in the stability of the universe. This stability lies on a razor’s edge.
The vacuum energy of the Higgs field is formally called its vacuum expectation value, which is 246 giga electron volts or GeV. This value is the only fundamental mass parameter of the standard model. The masses of all fundamental particles, depends entirely on this value. But if we insert the most precise parameters from experiments into our model, the model suggests that there might be another minimum in the potential. A minimum that is even lower, and thus nature would push us to that value. Worse is that it could be an unbounded minimum that is infinitely low.
Any transition from where we are now to this new minimum, is unlikely. But because quantum tunneling allows the universe to go overcome any energy barrier and tunnel from one point in a lower potential in another, there is a chance that it could happen. That’s what our best and most accurate theory, the standard model, suggests. Should the universe tunnel to this lower unbounded minimum, all massive particles in the universe will suddenly become infinitely massive. This change would propagate at the speed of light, which means we would not see it coming. The universe that we know of will be destroyed.
There's a fundamental mystery in the universe, dark energy. Lambda in General Relativity signifies a mysterious repulsive force permeating all of spacetime which counteracts gravity and makes the universe expand. The expansion was occurring at an accelerated rate. depending on the severity of the expansion, it might begin to expand so fast that it will rip out Milky way apart, so that we will not see any other stars at all. It will be a very lonely universe. And if it keeps going, then our solar system, then Earth, then you and I will all be ripped apart. This is known as the big rip. And it would be a sad ending.
The next equation is the second law of thermodynamics. What this equation says any change in entropy will be greater than or equal to the transfer of heat energy at some temperature T. If we consider the universe itself as a closed system, then this same law applies, meaning that eventually all stars will burn out, after having converted all their energy to heat. This means no useful work can be done, no fusion in the stars, no living things. No activity whatsoever. All will go quiet. Basically, the universe will have turned off all the lights, like when you go to bed at night. At this point we will reach the heat death of the universe.
Our fifth and final equation may seem harmless at first. It's the classic equation for calculating the orbital velocity of a heavenly objects. We can use it to find the approximate velocity of stars at a specific distance from the galactic center of mass of a galaxy. But observations by Vera Rubin and others in the 20th century found a glaring discrepancy. The stars in the outer arm of galaxies were moving much faster than they should. The best explanation appears to be that there must be much more mass than what we observe with our instruments. This is dark matter. We can’t see it because it doesn’t appear to emit, absorb or reflect any light nor any radiation of any kind. What could be hiding in the dark? There could be a whole universe out there that we currently have no access to. We wouldn’t know. What if dark aliens can see us, but we just can’t see them. We better hope they are friendly. \n
\" data-title=\"Get Full Access\" data-container=\"body\" rel=\"popover\" tabindex=\"0\" href=\"/subscription/new\">Video Preview\n
\n
\n
\n
Concepts
\n
\n
heat energy
\n
\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
Additional Tags
\n
\n
scary scenarios for the universe, most scary equations of physics, frightening equations, dark matter aliens, dark energy, einstein's general relativity, what is lambda in physics, cosmological constant, existential questions, existential questions about life, insane amount, human civilization, higgs boson, general relativity, big rip, higgs field, closed system, accurate theory, standard model, higgs potential, vacuum expectation, unbounded minimum, particle physics, model
\" data-title=\"Get Full Access\" data-container=\"body\" rel=\"popover\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Play video: 5 Math Equations that Could End Human Civilization\" href=\"/subscription/new\">\n\n\n\n
![\"5](\"https://static.lp.lexp.cloud/images/attachment_defaults/resource/large/missing.png\" "\\"5")
\n