God's creation as seen by a scientist. Reflection led by Prof. Vyacheslavs Kashcheyevs, specialist in quantum physics and nanotechnology, University of Latvia.
Taize 2016 Riga workshop on December 30, 2016, 15:00 at Latvian National Library
Video recording:
Part I: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMb4p5Ow8zU
Part II: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QWirK2pm-o
2. Newton's law of universal gravitation
Image source: http://scottberkun.com/2010/challenging-newtons-apple/
Creation obeys universal laws
that can be discovered
by disciplined reason!
3. Sir Isaac Newton’s definition of physics
“I have not as yet been able to discover the reason for these
properties of gravity from phenomena, and I do not feign
hypotheses [Hypotheses non fingo]. For whatever is not deduced
from the phenomena must be called a hypothesis; and hypotheses,
whether metaphysical or physical, or based on occult qualities, or
mechanical, have no place in experimental philosophy. In this
philosophy particular propositions are inferred from the
phenomena, and afterwards rendered general by induction.”
4. Albert Einstein’s laws of gravitation
“canvas”
deformation
of space-time fabric
“paint”
energy & mass
of matter
Gravity is the force of the Cosmos…
5. Detection of gravity waves in 2015
Laser Interferometry
Gravitational Observatory
6. Novel prizes in physics 1978 & 2006
Light of Creation
(aka cosmic microwave background radiation)
Theory prediction
properties of atoms +
observations of receding galaxies +
Einstein’s law for space-time +
Planck’s law for light quanta
Datapoints
= measurements
of the “oldest light”
And God said, “Let there be light,”
and there was light.
/Gen. 1:3/
7. Quantum physics
neither particles nor waves
obey beautiful but weird laws
never fully predictable
TU Delft
IBM Zurich
Hitachi, Japan
atoms
electrons
photons
quanta of
matter
quanta of
electricity
quanta of light
8. Laws of quantum physics…
… prone to (a lot of) misunderstanding
…say nothing about spiritual or mind-over-matter issues
…do provide physics’ “official loophole” for miracles