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Just a little something to remind us how humble we must be. One of the most moving words ever spoken by a human being.
Carl Sagan we miss you.

Let’s state the law first:

“The Law of Conservation of Matter and Energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, but can change its form.
The total quantity of matter and energy available in the closed system is a fixed amount and never any more or less.”

Some people (usually creationists) will argue that this contradicts what is happening on earth or in our solar system. For example: plants could not live without external energy source, our sun.
They will say something like following: “how come that earth is getting this extra energy when law clearly states that total quantity of energy is always fixed amount.” It is very easy to spot a mistake there (or deception). They forgot to include phrase “in the closed system”.

Well, explanation for that is that earth is not in the closed system. The whole universe is, and total amount of energy in the whole universe will never change. Energy might take another shape, or matter may become energy, but the results will always be equal to total amount of energy.

Think of the universe as a closed system. As far as we know there is nothing outside of it, so universe has to use whatever energy it has within it in order to survive and function, while our earth can “borrow” energy from external sources like our sun.

So explanation is: Earth is not in the closed system. Universe is. It is as simple as that.

Galaxies, stars, planets and solar systems can borrow energy from another as much as they like, but the total amount of energy in the whole universe will always stay the same.

It is a zero sum game.

You can also use poker analogy. Let’s say we have 4 players and each has $100 to play with. Total money (or you can say energy) amount will be $400. Sometimes person 1 can have $200 and person 2 only $50, person 3 $150, but sometimes person 1 can have only $50. Amount of money (energy) between players changes all the time, but total amount will always be $400.

Now, we get to the really tough question. If total amount of energy is always the same, then big bang might be beginning of time/space but not the energy itself, since that would violate the Law.
Well, then easy answer is that universe probably always existed in some form or another, it is our perception that nothing is “default state” that is wrong. We always assume that “nothing” has to come first, that “nothing” is the beginning, or that default state is “nothing”, and then comes “something”. Why?
I don’t think there is a contradiction in the law at all. Universe always existed in some form or the other.

Another explanation might be that our universe is not closed system but it is part of the even larger system (like our sun is part of the galaxy and our galaxy is part of the universe and so on) and that the big bang is just another of million other explosions.
There are lots of theories to consider before you start invoking supernatural which does not answer anything nor does it help critical thinking. To me, invoking supernatural is the easy and cowardly way out.

I was reading through livescience.com website and I came across their Top 10 Unexplained Phenomena so i thought i post it here since it is pretty interesting. Here we go:

Number 10: The Body/Mind Connection
Medical science is only beginning to understand the ways in which the mind influences the body. The placebo effect, for example, demonstrates that people can at times cause a relief in medical symptoms or suffering by believing the cures to be effective—whether they actually are or not. Using processes only poorly understood, the body’s ability to heal itself is far more amazing than anything modern medicine could create.

Number 9: Psychic powers and ESP
Psychic powers and extra-sensory perception (ESP) rank among the top ten unexplained phenomena if for no other reason than that belief in them is so widespread. Many people believe that intuition (see #3) is a form of psychic power, a way of accessing arcane or special knowledge about the world or the future. Researchers have tested people who claim to have psychic powers, though the results under controlled scientific conditions have so far been negative or ambiguous. Some have argued that psychic powers cannot be tested, or for some reason diminish in the presence of skeptics or scientists. If this is true, science will never be able to prove or disprove the existence of psychic powers.  Read the rest of this entry »

Here is the link to the site that has lot of Dawkins videos organized chronologically. Really nicely done.
http://www.unpronounceable.com/dawkins/

If you new to Dawkins then check this site out and then pick up his book The God Delusion and then read resto of his earlier books too. You will not look at the world with same eyes ever again, or to quote Penn and Teller about Richard Dawkins book The God Delusion: “If this book doesn’t change the world - we’re all screwed”.

Enjoy

It is really a shame that we don’t get programing like this here in States. Even though you might disagree with Mr. Dawkins , there is no denying his genius.
This video is around 27 minutes and well worth your time.
I just picked up his new book called “The God Delusion” and what I see so far is that he is not just a great speaker and very sharp man but a good writer too.
His arguments and evidence presented are so compelling and intelligent that literary it might change the way you look at the things in this world from now on.
For those of you who like good intelligent debate enjoy, and for those who are just bitter, fanatic, naive and plain stupid BITE ME!!!