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String Theory—Causing a Disturbance of Cosmic Proportions Book Reviews String theory—causing a disturbance of cosmic proportions by the requirement that intelligent life be possible. The first viewpoint explains life as having emerged by chance as the fortunate by-product of the laws of physics, mathematics and probability. The second viewpoint has been termed the anthropic principle Mary Beth De Repentigny (AP) (p. 7). Until recently, the AP has been loathed by most evolutionary n this recently published book, scientists because of its religious ILeonard Susskind, professor implications or because, to them, it in theoretical physics at Stanford represents a surrender of the noble University, picks up where one’s quest for ‘rational’ answers. In fact, physics education may have left off. Susskind asserts that physicists had He gets the reader up to speed on the hoped that ST would be an alternative superior power, the hostage begins to latest understanding of particle physics to the AP (this should be a lesson to sympathize with his captors in order to and quantum field theory, but without those like Hugh Ross who want to maximize his probability of survival. 1 the equations. claim ST is predicted by the Bible ). It seems that Leonard Susskind has In fact, the author promises likewise been forced to embrace the early in the book that he will not Forced to accept the anthropic AP enemy because of its undeniable use equations in his explanations— principle explanatory strength and for his own survival as an objective scientist. and he keeps his promise. He does But ST has failed to explain all make fine use, however, of Feynman the properties of nature in a unique Do not mistakenly assume, diagrams. Susskind also gives way. In other words, it has failed however, that Susskind now believes engaging explanations on topics to be the much-sought-after ‘theory in the benevolent creator that the AP including particle physics, the Higgs of everything’—and indeed even apparently points to. No, indeed, to field, the geometry of space, and the Stephen Hawking has finally realized him the AP’s religious sound is muted Holographic Principle in black hole that finding a theory of everything by a combination of inflationary complementarity, just to name a few. is a logical impossibility thanks to cosmology and the Landscape of Susskind’s forté as a communicator Gödel’s incompleteness proof.2 If ST. He coined the term landscape in is his colourful analogies, which he ST is found to be wrong, Susskind 2003 to denote a mathematical space employs often in an enlightening says, ‘… we would be left with no representing all the possible vacuums and humorous way. He even waxes other rational explanation for the (by a ‘vacuum’ physicists mean an philosophical as he discusses the illusion of a designed universe’ (p. environment with a particular set of concepts of beauty and elegance in the 355). Theoretical physicists have thus physical laws, elementary particles, laws that describe nature. found themselves in the embarrassing and constants of nature) that String Dr Susskind’s stated subject of position of having fallen into the Theory allows (p. 20). As Susskind the book, however, is why the Laws of ‘waiting arms of the enemy’ (p. 14), says in the following quote from his Physics are, not what they are (p. 22). namely those who espouse the AP. introduction, explaining the struggle of Widely recognized as the father of Have you ever been forced by your ideas surrounding the AP is the subject string theory (ST), Susskind explains circumstances to begin seeing your of this new book: that a conceptual war is going on enemy as your friend? This type of ‘This book is about the emerging between two factions in science. He phenomenon can happen in a hostage physical paradigm that does make wants his reader to understand the situation. Psychologists call it the use of the Anthropic Principle struggle of ideas between those who Stockholm Syndrome, and explain that but in a way that offers a wholly believe that all the laws of nature can be this is an act of self-preservation which scientific explanation of the determined by mathematical relations comes out of the defense mechanism apparent benevolence of the and those who believe that the laws of of identification. Because the enemy universe. I think of it as the physics are determined, in some way, is not going to go away, due to his physicist’s Darwinism’ (p. 11). JOURNAL OF CREATION 21(3) 2007 47 Book Reviews In fact, Susskind changes the (the ‘horizon problem’). According of last scattering, a time that we can meaning of the AP from being an idea to Alan Guth, inventor of the theory, never see. These quantum wrinkles, that explains apparent design in the the universe grew exponentially to if they existed, would have become universe as evidence of a designer to immense proportions in an extremely imprinted on the surface of last being evidence for the existence of short time before the conventional scattering. Susskind interprets the tiny ST’s fantastically varied landscape big bang is believed to have started. variations of brightness in the cosmic with the mechanism of eternal inflation During this growth period, all the microwave background, mapped out by for creating pocket universes. In inhomogeneities would have gotten the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy other words, Susskind’s version of stretched out (p. 163). Inflation to Probe (WMAP), to be the frozen-in the AP gains evolutionary science’s such a large degree would leave remnants of these pre-historic cosmic acceptance by attempting to replace the the universe with no variations in wrinkles. But he appears unaware of need for a supernatural designer by the the cosmic microwave background the severe methodological problems laws of very large numbers. (CMB). However, Susskind’s ideas with this ‘mapping’ that would never Two ideas are driving many are all moot, because the CMB actually be accepted in any other radiological evolutionary scientists to embrace the doesn’t cast the right shadows to have field.4 AP. First is the supposed success of come from the big bang.3 Thus, Susskind asserts that the inflationary cosmology and second Galaxies, on the other hand, would theory of inflation seems to have strong is the acceptance of a small, but non- need variations of density in order to support from the CMB. The fine- zero cosmological constant. Although have formed. If the density contrasts tuning of the Inflation Theory lies in its biblical creationists reject both of had been too weak, galaxies would having a suitable period for it to have these concepts, physicists recognize that each of these widely embraced not be able to form at all; if they had occurred. Susskind believes that when interpretations requires an been too strong, galaxies would grow our universe began, it conveniently enormous degree of fine-tuning found itself at the ‘lucky spot’ for intelligent life to be possible. (p. 304) of high enough energy Thus they can no longer deny density to inflate at least 1020 that, the universe appears to times. Otherwise, the universe have been specially designed for would not be big enough, smooth man. Such a thought is entirely enough, or have density contrasts unacceptable to Susskind who just right for our existence. He believes the whole point of admits that arbitrarily placing the science is to avoid explanations infant universe at such a fortunate involving a God who created place on the landscape would man with a purpose. In contrast, defeat his goal of explaining a creationist sees the purpose of the world without an intelligent science as being the fulfillment designer. But, as we shall see, of mankind’s Dominion Mandate with his interpretation of ST given by God to subdue and have and its enormous landscape of dominion over all that is in the Photo by NASA/JPL possibilities, finding some parts earth (Genesis 1:28). Most physicists agree, the fact that galaxies full of of space at the lucky spot would First we will look at how astronomical bodies exist demands an extremely finely- be mathematically inevitable. tuned cosmological constant. these two ideas involve a super- Although Dr Susskind seems precision to allow for life on earth to think that astronomical data to be possible, and then we will too rapidly and collapse to black have confirmed the reality of discuss how Susskind’s interpretation holes. Susskind thus believes that it inflation, this is not the case.5 As yet, of ST allows physicists to willingly now appears ‘all but certain’ (p. 166) it remains a mathematical construct, suppress the conspicuous ‘voice’ of the that galaxies are remnants of original designed to rescue the big bang heavens as it unambiguously declares quantum fluctuations which every field theory.6 the glory of God (Psalm 19:1, Romans has. Rapid inflation would stretch out How one interprets the CMB 1:18–32). the old wrinkles, but replace them with data is model-dependent. Gurzadyan new tiny quantum wrinkles which believes that the blotches from the Fine-tuning in Inflation Theory would have accumulated to form the WMAP temperature map are not the Inflation theory attempts to answer minute density contrasts that could result of lumpiness in radiation density the question of how the universe could eventually grow into galaxies. in the early universe. Rather, they are have become so homogenous that Inflation conceivably happened enlarged and smeared images caused by the cosmic microwave background before the first light in the universe the fact that individual photons from an looks the same in every direction appeared, at a time beyond the surface original bundle follow different paths 48 JOURNAL OF CREATION 21(3) 2007 Book Reviews from the source to the receiver.7 If this keeps the universe hospitable to the allow evolutionary scientists to deduce interpretation of the minute variations formation of life.
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