What is real and what is not? What can be classified as truth and false? Can anything be universally called 'real' or is it just human perception? After all, our tiny brain can be so easily deceived. So what makes something real? Or is there no reality at all? Consider the book next to you, it will always be there if you don't move it right? So that is the reality! Well, is it? Honestly, I don't know the answer. But here are some phenomenons and theories in Physics which would certainly befuddle you and question REALITY....

Let's start with something simple. For those who understand some basic science are aware of the fact that similar charges always repel each other. For those who're not familiar with this. Consider the charges as the two north or south poles of a different magnet who're kept very close to each other, naturally, they will try to reach a position as far as possible. Now that we've understood this basic principle, let's apply it to everything around us. We all are made up of atoms. Atoms, irrespective of the element, have a positively charged nucleus and negatively charged electron(s). Now try to bring two atoms close, keeping in mind the principle we just read about. It would be impossible to make any kind of contact between the two atoms due to the electrostatic repulsion between them. I won't complicate things now. So the fact is, that whenever you touch someone or hold something in your hand, you are never actually touching it because the laws of physics, actually the laws nature do not allow you to do so! If you're not touching it, then how do you feel it? In simple words, it the resistance you're feeling, and not the substance itself. There breaks your bubble of reality, doesn't it? 

Who would have thought that the sense or the feeling of touching your pet or your loved ones was not the soft fur or skin or the fresh food you just baked but the resistive forces between the atoms? If you think about it, your bodies were refusing to come in contact 'for real'. Just kidding, except I'm not!

From what we've understood, everything that we considered as 'implied reality' (which does not require explanation) until now was never real at all?

Here's a good ol' Einstein quote to keep you interested (not that I admit this is going to get too complicated)


There are a few theories in Physics proposed by distinguished scientists namely the Theory of Relativity, Quantum Entanglement, Matter Wave Theory and the list just goes on. Well, we all must admit that Physics has always been mind boggling!

Lets talk about the The Theory of Relativity proposed by Albert Einstein for which he received the Nobel Prize (Nobel Prize is a really big deal people!). Einstein proposed the concept called 'Time Dilation'. And it is just what it means. Time can actually change! This means that time may be flowing slower for you or faster than the time for me. Basically, time is not universal but a very personal thing. It may be a bit to wrap your head around this, possibly because a lot of us don't perhaps have the same understanding of 'time' as the scientist do. Allow me to quote The Doctor from Doctor Who, it is 'wibbly wobbly time-wimey" stuff. Time does not just flow, it is a part of the fabric of space. A second on earth does not have to be the same duration in some nearby galaxy. Pretty crazy when you don't have 'time' as a standard of reference right? Einstein proposed that time and space are not different but the same and he called it 'space-time' which is omnipresent(at least in our own universe). What Einstein said was that acceleration decreases the flow of time for you. The faster you go, the slower the time is for you. But you won't know it as time is what we always use as a reference because we consider is the same for everyone. We always use it as a standard of reference but if time itself has slowed down for you, how could you possibly know that? Is it because the constant flow of time is what makes you feel real? And this is why, the duration of a jiffy may not be a jiffy but a whole week for someone out there. But that does complicate things for that person, because as I said, time is personal. As long as you know it's a jiffy, there is no denying. This does not have an effect on anything unless there's an observer having his own reference of time. This also proves that time is relative. What if time was to stop for you and then start again and then stop, how would you possibly realize that? Because everything basically ceases to exist without the flow of time. Who knew time could be such an important factor for our existence. But could there be something that does not need time?

I know it's a bit complicated but this video offers a much better explanation with a different example:


Now let's talk about Quantum Entanglement. Quantum Physics is a relatively new branch of Physics going back to only a couple of decades. If you were to ask me what's the most fascinating field of Physics, it would be Quantum Physics and the theory would be Quantum Entanglement(at least for now)! Everything about this is both wonderful and stupid at the same time. What quantum entanglement teaches us is that when you have two particles which are 'identical' in every aspect, then they both will go through the same changes irrespective of their position in space. Consider a pair of subatomic particles with a negative charge having some definite spin. If you somehow separate these two particles and place them on two different ends of the Earth and then change the spin of only one of the two particles, the other one on the other side of the planet would immediately change its spin by the same magnitude and sign! Just imagine what the science behind this would be? Consider that the two particles were separated and taken to two different galaxies a few light years away and one of them was to be changed. According to quantum entanglement theory, the other particle would have to show that change. But now listen to this, nothing can travel faster than light, not even information! And the speed of light is 299,792,458 km/sec. How can this be possible at all? Well, that's quantum physics for you. If we could get a breakthrough in this, transfer of information across the universe to its very edge would literally take not time! Ponder over the possibilities and  keep the flame of curiosity burning inside you! Theories like these compel you to question reality. They make everything you supposed to be true as a mere illusion!



What if you were never human but only a brain in a laboratory somewhere? What if you were just a part of a computer simulation (Matrix lovers, are you here?) or just a character of a video game with an evolved conscience? Or even worse, just a dream?



Don't worry, these questions won't be left unanswered but that doesn't imply that I know the answers to them, or maybe I do but the computer simulation restricts me from that? Wait for the next blog post!

.....................................................................................TO BE CONTINUED