Reactionary Science

We are a reactionary people living in a complex time, and scientists are no different.

The vacuum catastrophe and the response to it point to how our tendencies to react have become even part of science.

Mario Livio, a prominent scientist, refers to the vacuum catastrophe as embarrassing to science because of the  discrepancy between measured results and calculated results.

The story elaborates, " The embarrassment Livio referred to is sometimes known as the vacuum catastrophe. Truly empty space, sucked dry of any air or particles, still has an inherent energy to it, according to observations, Livio said. But when scientists use theories of quantum mechanics to try and calculate this vacuum energy, their results differ from the measured results by about 120 orders of magnitude, or the number 1 followed by 120 zeros."

So, what is science's response to this mistake in calculations? Is it to admit the mistake and examine calculation methodology? Well, not exactly. Read for yourself...

"With three other prominent astrophysicists on the panel, Livio delved into one of the most confounding (and embarrassing) problems in modern astrophysics, which led to a discussion of whether or not our universe might be just one of - an infinite number of multiverses - and whether a theory of the multiverse is good or bad for science."

And the explanation of multiverses is even more reactionary...

"The reason a multiverse might solve this problem is that it could suggest the vacuum energy is "a random variable," Livio said. Meaning, it isn't derived from a physical principle that scientists can figure out, but rather it was determined randomly. If there are many, many other universes in existence (perhaps an infinite number), then with the creation of so many universes, the variables could change a little for each one."

To suggest that vacuum energy is a random variable is, in essence, allowing anything and everything, reducing science to a mystical religion with no consistency or foundation. 

In essence, a theory of multiverses admits no mistake at all and creates a theory that offers a plausible explanation of why their calculations were wrong. This is the perfect snapshot of modern science and why it is as reactionary as everything else.

I encourage you to read the entire story HERE. It is fascinating!