According to Tulane Physics Professor Frank Tipler's Omega Point Theory, as the universe comes to an end in a specific kind of Big Crunch, the computational capacity of the universe will be accelerating exponentially faster than time runs out. In principle, a simulation run on this universal computer can thus continue forever in its own terms, even though the universal computer is embedded in a universe that will last only a finite time.
Tipler identifies the final singularity of this asymptotically infinite information capacity with God. According to Tipler and David Deutsch, an implication of this theory is that this ultimate cosmic computer will be able to resurrect (via emulation) everyone who has ever lived, by simulating all possible quantum brain states within the master simulation. This will manifest itself as a simulated reality. From the perspective of its simulated inhabitants, the Omega Point is an infinite-duration afterlife, which could take any imaginable form due to its virtual nature.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omega_Point_(Tipler)
2010-06-24T12:53:18Z
For those who commit the logical fallacy of discounting information based on its source in wikipedia instead of judging it on it own merit, here's a different link: http://www.colorado.edu/philosophy/vstenger/Cosmo/tipler.txt
2010-06-24T13:01:51Z
There are two theories for the end of the universe: either it keeps expanding and becomes too cold for life or if there is enough matter, eventually gravity reverses the expansion and we get a big crunch. http://map.gsfc.nasa.gov/universe/uni_fate.html
2010-06-24T13:07:01Z
DD - If you're still interested in Chardin, Bernard Lee does a good job of making him understandable in "The Becoming of the Church". It's dirt cheap used on Amazon.
Dear Dogma2010-06-24T12:56:16Z
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Spinning these thoughts to a spiritual reflection....
In his book "The Phenomenon of Man" Pere Theillard de Chardin ( a devout yet defrocked jesuit priest who studied paleo-anthropology ) assert that man's accumulated knowledge could be considered in the same fashion as the bio-sphere coining the term No-osphere and that this plane of thought was progressing ever forward towards an "Omega-point" of pure thought (God).
I read the book three times and still never quite got it, but the term here made me think of it.
We already know the universe is continuing to expand... even more-so, we know that that rate of expansion is once again accelerating, and if red shift measurements are correct, the outer radius of the universe is already accelerating faster than light speed, and the radius of superluminal expansion will slowly decrease. As such, there will not be a big crunch.
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"There are two theories for the end of the universe:"
No, there are two hypotheses.
One has already been shown to be highly unlikely, even impossible based on available observations.
Since gravity promulgates at the speed of light, if there are areas of the universe already receeding at superluminal speed, then the gravitational effect of those areas of the universe can never reach the rest of the universe -- as such, they've been removed from the gravitational well.
This means the average gravitational density of the universe is decreasing significantly with each passing moment as the lightcone of any given point contains less and less mass. The average density of the universe is measured as being extremely close to one, if the gravitational density of the universe significantly decreases, then the universe is open and there cannot be a big crunch scenario.
As to that issues substitute: so what! communicate a pair of lot of socalled scietific hand waving to over categorize (an errors in severe thinking of hasty overgeneralization; there is such as a results of fact the set of info all actual yet seem to be contradictory) a phenomenon that should no longer save the 2nd of theromdynamics of physics nor the mathematics of probability. with out protecting different variables consistent, the technological know-how ought to no longer isolate a learn on very lots. And yet, on an identical time, the interrelationship of those remoted variables must be studied at the same time to type a greater holistic suggestions-set to the socalled technological know-how. Newton mentioned 'regulation' interior the 1800's or so. We see that there may well be greater effective pick for learn into why and hows of the easily mechanics of the gravity. So then, isn't 'regulation' a misnomer with understand to the relativity of the situations and reactivities in contact interior the viscosity of area and darkish count. by using the way, Babylon had a narrative of a undeniable planet that was once seen interior the sky which expoded sometime; i think of. The gravitation of our image voltaic equipment is declared, to on the instant, to have a 'placeholder' with understand to the gravitational forces speaking to the existence of yet another planet 'previous' pluto which has no longer been found.
The evidence gathered over the past 10-15 years shows that the expansion of the universe is accelerating, not slowing down. Which makes a "big crunch" end to the universe extremely unlikely. And his idea about baryon annihilation requiring the (as-yet unconfirmed) Higgs Boson to its absolute vacuum state negating expansion is unfounded speculation.
From Tipler's writings, it appears he went from doing speculative but reasonable mathematical physics to being a bit nutty about promoting his theological ideas...that's what religious delusion can do to even the best minds, unfortunately.