[LINK] Quantum Graphity

[stephen at melbpc.org.au]

Aussie-scientists-challenge-Big-Bang-theory

"University of Melbourne suggest theory that could 'revolutionise' our 
understanding of the universe. Theory suggests the universe moved from 
a 'fluid' state to a fixed state of three spatial directions"

By Eddie Wrenn
PUBLISHED: 08:15 GMT, 21 August 2012 | UPDATED: 10:31 GMT, 21 August 2012 
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2191333/Aussie-scientists-
challenge-Big-Bang-theory-say-Universe-froze-way-existence-Big-Chill.html?
ito=feeds-newsxml>


The traditional image of the birth of the universe suggests that all 
matter sparked into existence in a cataclysmic Big Bang more than 13 
billion years ago.

But this model is now being challenged by a theory which suggests the 
universe froze its way into existence in what has been deemed a 'Big 
Chill'.

Theoretical physicists at the University of Melbourne said the best 
metaphor for the start of the universe should be considered as water 
freezing into ice.

In this theory, the three spatial dimensions and the one dimension of 
time 'froze' into place - and the physicists suggest we could learn about 
the 'cracks in time and space' by investigating the natural cracks in ice 
particles.

They say our understanding of the nature of the Universe could be 
revolutionised by investigating the cracks and crevices common to ice 
crystals.

Lead researcher on the project, James Quach said current theorising is 
the latest in a long quest by humans to understand the origins and nature 
of the Universe.

He said: 'Ancient Greek philosophers wondered what matter was made of: 
was it made of a continuous substance or was it made of individual atoms?

'With very powerful microscopes, we now know that matter is made of atoms.

'Thousands of years later, Albert Einstein assumed that space and time 
were continuous and flowed smoothly, but we now believe that this 
assumption may not be valid at very small scales.'

He added: 'A new theory, known as Quantum Graphity, suggests that space 
may be made up of indivisible building blocks, like tiny atoms.

'These indivisible blocks can be thought about as similar to pixels that 
make up an image on a screen. 

'The challenge has been that these building blocks of space are very 
small, and so impossible to see directly.'

However Quach and his colleagues believe they may have figured out a way 
to see them indirectly.

He said: 'Think of the early universe as being like a liquid.

'Then as the universe cools, it "crystallises" into the three spatial and 
one time dimension that we see today.

'Theorised this way, as the Universe cools, we would expect that cracks 
should form, similar to the way cracks are formed when water freezes into 
ice.'

RMIT University research team member Associate Professor Andrew Greentree 
said some might be visible..

The team has calculated some of these effects and if their predictions 
are experimentally verified, the question as to whether space is smooth 
or constructed out of tiny indivisible parts will be solved once and for 
all.
--

Cheers,
Stephen