Chapter 8:
A Big Ask for Future Science

This chapter focuses on how fundamental physical laws can be applied to benefit humanity and expand our understanding of the cosmos. It begins by noting that Einstein’s work broke the tradition of restricting science to directly observable phenomena, opening new areas of investigation and encouraging rethinking when physics appears to “fail.”

The text emphasizes the limits of human observation, acknowledging that we will never access the indivisibly small or the outermost reaches of existence. It highlights examples of applied science at its largest scale, such as the ITER Fusion Reactor, and theoretical explorations like steady-state theory, multiple dimensions, and dark matter/energy. These unknowns remain fertile ground for both science and philosophy, especially questions about the visibility of matter, the missing antimatter, and the ultimate fate of the universe.

Cosmology is discussed in terms of Big Bang physics, including cosmic inflation, quark-gluon plasma experiments, and the open-ended temperature scale. While some anomalies—like particles potentially exceeding the speed of light during inflation—pose challenges, the fundamental rules of physics are considered consistent from the universe’s birth to its potential end.

Analogies, such as a superheated cup of water requiring a perturbation to erupt, illustrate how the universe follows latent rules that manifest under the right conditions. Finally, the text observes that ages of human progress are often marked by major scientific breakthroughs, showing the interplay between discovery and understanding of natural laws.