We have never observed infinity in nature. Whenever you have infinities in a theory, that's where the theory fails as a description of nature. And if space was born in the Big Bang, yet is infinite now, we are forced to believe that it's instantaneously, infinitely big. It seems absurd.
Interpretation
The quote discusses the paradoxes of infinity in the context of scientific theories about the universe.
Janna Levin highlights the challenges that arise when trying to reconcile the concept of infinity with our understanding of nature. In scientific theories, the presence of infinite quantities often leads to contradictions, especially when considering the origins of space in the Big Bang theory. Levin points out the absurdity of contemplating an infinite universe arising from a singular event, suggesting that these infinities indicate limitations in our theories rather than realities of nature.
In practice
In a lecture on modern cosmology, this quote could illustrate the complex nature of scientific theories.
I don't have an issue with what you do in the church, but I'm going to be up in your face if you're going to knock on my science classroom and tell me they've got to teach what you're teaching in your Sunday school. Because that's when we're going to fight.
What are the chances that we will one day discover that DNA has absolutely nothing to do with inheritance? They are effectively zero.
Wind power, if not properly planned and sited, can harm birds and bats (although Danish studies of 10,000 bird kills revealed that almost all died in collisions with buildings, cars and wires; only 10 were killed by windmills). Alternative energy sources are absolutely necessary. Global warming will kill birds and bats, as well as other species, in much greater numbers than wind power.
You have that one basic string, but it can vibrate in many ways. But we're trying to get a lot of particles because experimental physicists have discovered a lot of particles.
Ageing is so many different things, and cells being able to self-renew is part of the picture but not all of it.
Sooner or later, we will face a catastrophic threat from space. Of all the possible threats, only a gigantic asteroid hit can destroy the entire planet. If we prepare now, we better our odds of survival. The dinosaurs never knew what hit them.
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