much of the same, makes one wonder.

There are numerous websites entitled "Top 10 Unsolved Science Mysteries," or some slight variations on this theme. However, even a cursory examination of these sites reveals that the choices for the "top 10" are far from being unanimous. Here I have identified three "mysteries" that appear on many -- but definitely not all -- lists (in no particular order).


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mario-livio/the-top-science-mysteries_b_5831066.html

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(1) Are We Alone?

With billions of Earth-size planets orbiting their host stars in the "habitable zone" (the region that is neither too hot nor too cold, so that it allows for liquid water to exist on the planet's surface) is it possible that Earth is the only planet in the Milky Way galaxy hosting life? Fortunately, we don't need to speculate. For the first time in human history, we find ourselves in the position that we may be able to answer this question in the coming two to three decades (Figure 1). Needless to say that a discovery of extrasolar life will constitute a scientific revolution that will rival the Copernican and the Darwinian revolutions combined.

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is it possible that Earth is the only planet in the Milky Way galaxy hosting life?

Yes it is possible but IMO not likely.

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Forty five years ago, when I was in college and the Drake equation was new and being discussed in science and astronomy classes it was estimated that only one star in a thousand had planets and even then with that number it was still thought that the probability of life somewhere other than earth was very high.

Now the estimates are that at least one star in five has a planetary system containing at least one body where life could evolve. So, based on statistics, it is highly unlikely that ours is the only planet with life and very unlikely that we are the only (intelligent????????) beings in the Milky Way, let alone the universe.

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Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.

Thanks Guys, great answers. :)

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2) Is the Speed of Light the Ultimate Speed Limit?

According to Einstein's theory of Special Relativity, the speed of light in vacuum (about 186,000 miles per second, or about 300,000 kilometers per second) is the maximum speed at which matter, energy, or information can travel. If not for this limit, causality would be violated. In other words, effects would be observed prior to their causes.

This is not to say that nothing can move faster than light. For example, spacetime itself can stretch faster than the speed of light, and indeed it apparently had done so, during the brief period at the beginning of our universe known as "cosmic inflation" (see for example the discussion at: Eternal Inflation).

Quantum entanglement presents a phenomenon in which information at least appears to be transmitted faster than light. The idea is that when a property of one member of a pair of "entangled" particles (e.g., photons that have been prepared in a particular combination of their polarizations; Figure 2) is measured, the value of that property for the other member of the pair can be determined instantaneously. A simple classical analogue of this situation would be if someone puts each shoe of a pair into a separate box without telling you which shoe is in which box. Then she sends one box to London
and leaves one with you. Clearly, as soon as you open your box and see that it contains the left shoe, you instantaneously know that the box in London contains the right shoe. The precise implications of this so-called "spooky action at a distance" are still an active research area.

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2) Is the Speed of Light the Ultimate Speed Limit?

According to Einstein's theory of Special Relativity, the speed of light in vacuum (about 186,000 miles per second, or about 300,000 kilometers per second) is the maximum speed at which matter, energy, or information can travel. If not for this limit, causality would be violated. In other words, effects would be observed prior to their causes.

This is not to say that nothing can move faster than light. For example, spacetime itself can stretch faster than the speed of light, and indeed it apparently had done so, during the brief period at the beginning of our universe known as "cosmic inflation" (see for example the discussion at: Eternal Inflation).

Quantum entanglement presents a phenomenon in which information at least appears to be transmitted faster than light. The idea is that when a property of one member of a pair of "entangled" particles (e.g., photons that have been prepared in a particular combination of their polarizations; Figure 2) is measured, the value of that property for the other member of the pair can be determined instantaneously. A simple classical analogue of this situation would be if someone puts each shoe of a pair into a separate box without telling you which shoe is in which box. Then she sends one box to London
and leaves one with you. Clearly, as soon as you open your box and see that it contains the left shoe, you instantaneously know that the box in London contains the right shoe. The precise implications of this so-called "spooky action at a distance" are still an active research area.

I don't really see how the shoe scenario illustrates "faster than light". The mind still needs time to think of an answer, however simple it may be.

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The mind is a weird and mysterious place

If we can stop the Higgs field from giving mass to objects then the speed of light may not be the speed limit it is today .

If we can figure out how to make a Einstein Rosen bridge we my be able to get around the speed limit of light , and go places we can't at the moment .

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A photon (the electromagnetic force carrier) has no rest mass. It does have energy of course. Though it can behave as a particle, it is more correctly described as a wave that is a disturbance in the electromagnetic field.

2) Is the Speed of Light the Ultimate Speed Limit?


Thanks all for answers and questions. :)

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Last one.

(3) Can Humans Become Immortal?

The fact that everybody dies at the end has so far been an undeniable fact of life. But is that truly inevitable? Research into the possibility of prolonging life is proceeding in several directions. One such effort concentrates on an enzyme called telomerase, which was shown to slow down the death of cells, by arresting the age-induced shortening of the protective tips at the ends of chromosomes (known as telomeres; Figure 3). Experiments done with mice in recent years did demonstrate a reversal in the aging process through telomerase reactivation. Whether or not similar effects can be obtained in humans is still an open question.

Another direction of research, taken, for instance, by the New England Centenarian Study, is to examine in detail the genes of a couple thousand people who have reached the age of 100 for clues as to their unusual longevity.

Finally, some scientists, such as computer scientist and futurist Ray Kurzweil, argue that nanotechnology could produce tiny "maintenance" robots that would circulate through the human body and repair age-related damages.

The lesson from all of these "mysteries" is clear. There is no shortage of fascinating open questions in science, and I feel confident in predicting that even if the particular mysteries that I have listed here are solved, new, exciting ones will emerge.

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(3) Can Humans Become Immortal?

One day we may live for a thousand years but i ask this question ..

SHOULD WE TRY AND DO THIS ?

It will cause more problems than we have now . over population , food , water , and space to live . Until we can live in piece and have sorted the things i have mentioned i think we will be very foolish to go down this track .

When man has the wisdom to NOT use technology then we will be morally able to go down this track .

JUST BECAUSE WE CAN DOES NOT MEAN WE SHOULD , this is the test of wisdom and morals .

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I surely wouldn't want to be an old man for another 100 years. Even if my aging could have been slowed to a crawl, say in my early thirties, eventually life would become very boring even if I were a wealthy person. What does an immortal do after experiencing everything several thousand times? I guess some who seek power would enjoy their life longer than most but I wonder for how long?

I agree with Glenn that even though such a thing may become possible it may cause more problems than it solves.

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Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.

I surely wouldn't want to be an old man for another 100 years. Even if my aging could have been slowed to a crawl, say in my early thirties, eventually life would become very boring even if I were a wealthy person. What does an immortal do after experiencing everything several thousand times? I guess some who seek power would enjoy their life longer than most but I wonder for how long?

I agree with Glenn that even though such a thing may become possible it may cause more problems than it solves.

+ LOADS! Awful thought!! Paying bills forever!! Aaaaaaargh!!

@Lynn - nice thread! Only just found it though :/ Thank you! :)

Oh I don't know .... If science could let be live to be 200 I'd love it! Think of all the years I could flirt with nice Ladies, and that's just for starters. I'd have time to learn to paint, fly a plane, run for President. I would see man on Mars, and then to the stars. Bored? no way, bring it on I say!!!

:))))) There would be plusses of course! :) but we'd have to change a lot of our ways before it would be enough plusses... and... although I'm sure I could learn to fly a plane, I'm not sure 200 years is long enough for me to learn how to land one, and for it, and I, to remain in one piece each... I mean... I have problems navigating shoes at times...

According to pilots I have known, after learning to fly and land a plane it gets pretty boring 99% of the time. That is unless you are a military fighter pilot or a civilian air show pilot. And the only reason they stay exciting is because you are putting your life on the line to do it. I don't think very many people, even if they could live to be 500 years old would ever learn to fly or drive a race car or do any other activity more thrilling than going on an amusement park ride.

It seems to me that the world's population would have to shrink drastically if our lifespan increased significantly. That is unless it were available to only a tiny minority, and we all know who that would be. Ie not us

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Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.

Chris females and there shoes umm i don't think Anniet will remember that advise when she is looking at the shoes .

Now there is a good mystery why do females go all silly over a pair of shoes .

Maybe we should apply for a grant and try and figure it out ! . I'm shore we won't have much trouble getting volunteers to help us if we tell them the shoes will be there's to keep .

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Chris females and there shoes umm i don't think Anniet will remember that advise when she is looking at the shoes .

Now there is a good mystery why do females go all silly over a pair of shoes .

Maybe we should apply for a grant and try and figure it out ! . I'm shore we won't have much trouble getting volunteers to help us if we tell them the shoes will be there's to keep .

I'm an annie sandwich :) The filling between two generations of women that adore shoes and have way too many of them (my daughter and my mum) :) I much prefer pottering around on bare feet and have nowhere near as many accidents in them. :) Suppose I could get my feet tattoo-ed... get some laces put on or something...

Only ever wore shoes to go to school, uni and work - but you get really odd looks walking about in London with bare feet... I've done it though, many times :) once WAS admittedly because my shoes sort of deconstructed themselves in Greenwich theatre.

Anyway - I would welcome a scientific study of the phenomonen... and maybe a grant into studying handbags too while we're about it... I find mine a nightmare to keep under control :/ I've been told it's because I should move things around between bags that match my shoes... yeah right! That'll work for me not... maybe I'm just some throwback to a time before shoes and handbags... but with less hair :)

Annet you need to do what we do down here get some Thongs (flip flops) i think you call them not the Brazilian thongs mind you you would get some looks walking around London with one of them on hehehehehehe

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I surely wouldn't want to be an old man for another 100 years. Even if my aging could have been slowed to a crawl, say in my early thirties, eventually life would become very boring even if I were a wealthy person. What does an immortal do after experiencing everything several thousand times? I guess some who seek power would enjoy their life longer than most but I wonder for how long?

I agree with Glenn that even though such a thing may become possible it may cause more problems than it solves.

+ LOADS! Awful thought!! Paying bills forever!! Aaaaaaargh!!

@Lynn - nice thread! Only just found it though :/ Thank you! :)

+100 on both comments!

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