The worst prediction in physics: what energy is in empty space?

[Sancho]

[Think. Again.]

1. Interesting...

...and maybe I'm missing something, but if "empty space" doesn't exist because it's not really empty, why are we still considering it "empty" space?

[jaxexpat]

2. take a number and have a seat

[PJMcK]

3. Lawrence Krauss wrote a whole book about this

“A Universe From Nothing”

Here’s his lecture based on the book. It’s quite entertaining and informative.

&t=3965s

[erronis]

4. Thanks for posting this. It took 13 minutes of intro before he appeared.

I'll watch the remainder tomorrow.

[PJMcK]

5. Academics love to talk

Dr. Krauss makes a crack later in the lecture that he’s running out of time because the introductions went so long!

The lecture itself is informative and entertaining.

[scipan]

6. I watched it and he showed how you get something from nothing

Now if this poor old brain could only understand what he said....

[PJMcK]

7. It's weird, isn't it?

Basically, there’s no such thing as “nothing.” Empty space is full of the virtual particles that pop into and out of existence so quickly that they cannot be observed or measured. But their existence can be sensed by other means. These particles create energy. So, empty space isn’t empty!

What a universe we live in!

[scipan]

8. But it all adds up to 0!

Somehow.. but that kinda makes sense. Just not to me yet very much.

And those virtual particles created the big bang I think...