Exploring The Possible Mechanisms Of The Observable & Unobservable World
Many marvel at the phenomena of this world that we can scientifically measure & observe. Indeed, many marvel yet still at just how much we cannot directly measure & observe, & yet seems to be at play phenomenally in some mysterious way. In this work, I shall attempt to elucidate upon some possible postulates related to the so-called physical & 'meta'physical realms & their seeming complementary & interdependent nature, whether or not prevailing philosophies support or contradict this view. In many religious or 'faith-based' systems of thought, the synthesis or union of the physical & the 'spiritual' is taken axiomatically. Yet in many other perspectives, such as 'scientism' or 'materialism', the metaphysical is not taken for granted, & is often hotly contested. Moreover, in some scientific circles, there is not so much a battle 'against' spirituality, rather, a view that what some people experience as 'numinous', is merely mistaken. From this perspective, there is truly no such thing as anything 'supra' or 'supernatural.' There are only phenomena as of yet to be measured, observed & fully understood. From this vantage point, there is another kind of 'faith' that we will someday possess a complete picture of the physical realms & how everything works & ties in to everything else. Of course, this is the much sought after 'Holy Grail' of the Sciences: Grand Unified Theory.
Are the Microcosmic & The Macrocosmic Truly Mutually Exclusive?
Are the microcosmic and the macrocosmic realms as mutually exclusive and unrelated as they seem? Perhaps it is the inherent tendency of homosapien cognitive bias to adopt models of so-called reality to falsely (or merely imprecise) Boolean logarithms of this or that. Because here is one thing that even the most practiced and educated STEM enthusiasts have observed: The second Law of Thermodynamics has experimentally and consistently demonstrated the increasing tendency of 'nature' as we know it to seek equilibrium (the lowest possible energy state) & to seek 'entropy' (a lesser or greater degree of freedom within microstates) over simplicity and predictability. Now, mind you, this is a reference also to quantum uncertainty and fluctuations in the so-called fermionic 'Higgs-field', which some would assume bears no relation to the macroscopic (or cosmic) order of things-nevertheless, I do not concur. It is far more sound and intuitive to presume an inherent 'irreducible complexity' and interrelation of all living and active systems.
On note, perhaps that is why for most of our days, life seems stultifyingly boring and mundane. And perhaps this is because we cannot readily access happenings upon the so-called 'quantum' scale. Because this, ladies & gents, is a hotbed of activity! Yes, this is a definite limitation of human neuro-anatomy and perceptivity. This is also perhaps why we can be so easily misled into all sorts of biases and in the worst case scenario-psychoses or in the even worst-case-scenario: Psychopathologies. That is to say, our species seems to be vulnerable to a conflagration of 'appearance reality' with 'what's-actually-going-on'.
Furthermore, perhaps what we human-kind classify as questions and answers or models of morality are way more subtle & 'subatomic' than we think, in both form AND function. Moreover, this may indeed segue into more 'metaphysical' and perhaps even mystical matters of free will, morality & even...a possible soteriological and eschatological realm. That is to say, perhaps our current choices within these current 'mind-body-dualing' inhabitancies are exerting a certain ordering upon the subatomic field. To be fair, this is not all mere conjecture. Indeed, some discoveries that most scientists back in the 18th century named 'laws', are by today's standards no longer considered to be extant.
Interestingly, a lot of discoveries that were called 'laws' in the infancy of post-modernist realms of what used to be referred to as 'natural philosophy' are now appreciated as steps upon the ladder of human inquiry. As of 2024 when I began writing this, legitimate scientists referred to most current discoveries as 'theories', rather than 'laws', although some discoveries called 'laws' back in the time that they were recorded, are still extant & referred to as 'laws.' Indeed, if you hear a respectable scientist use the word 'theory' to describe the most current model of the natural world, be rest assured that your fallible human mind is in good hands. A theory, by today's standards is the best model that we currently have, based on 'hard' scientific due diligence, to describe at least, 'physical' reality (or the perception thereof). But that...is a whole other story, right!
In addition, a more accessible metaphor could be drawn from what geneticists refer to as 'phenotype vs. genotype.' Simply put, 'phenotype' is an organism's 'physical appearance', and 'genotype' is the actual 'in totem' genetic makeup of a human individual. And that's not even touching upon the myriad sociological (and often deleterious) effects of said “surface interpretations.” Humans seem to be hard-wired for the quickest and easiest path towards self-preservation and thrivance, both individually and collectively. That explains, in part, why they will 'judge on appearances.' After all, doesn't it seem that most persons will not only find it not only easier but much more sociologically beneficial to categorize a human person based upon entrenched socio-political biases and preconceptions rather than exposing oneself to the vulnerable position of intellectually integral self-reflection?
In essence, what I am referencing is the epistemological limitations of not only human perception, but also technology when exploring our known world in search of life's big answers. With that said, however, most of our current 'theories' are based in 'hard' science & rigorous methodology. Nevertheless, the quest for that ultimate Rosetta Stone known as 'Grand Unified Theory' continues with more & more syntheses being achieved as time marches on. Indeed, as human beings begin to observe the complementarity &, even interconnection of the so-called macroscopic or cosmic versus the quantum or 'subatomic' realms, perhaps humanity will achieve a Grand Unified Theory.
Moreover, it is becoming compellingly evident that all phenomena-and even perhaps 'noumena', are not disparate features of the natural or the perceptual world. And even those staunchly skeptical of even granting an agnostic consideration of anything not verifiable in the Large Hadron Collider or in any other scientific laboratory, must, on some level, be tempted to give sway to the possibility that verities outside the purely physical & existential realms are operant and perhaps even supreme. After all, to put a spin on the old scientific adage: 'Absence of evidence is not necessarily evidence of absence.' I contend that the absence may be evidence itself, in some cases. That is to say, perhaps the very fact that we could never directly observe certain phenomena, such as 'God' for instance, due to 'Him' or 'Her' or 'It' necessarily being composed of lethal energial forces, this, while it may not prove the actual existence of such an entity, may provide some epistemological mitigation.
In this work, we shall explore the various bodies of scientific knowledge, including within some of the so-called 'soft' science disciplines, & attempt to integrate them with various faith-based or theological & philosophical viewpoints & beliefs. I have always been a firm advocate of agnostic flexibility over rigidity, as I believe this to be the most humble & honest approach to the big questions of this human condition & existence. I am also a keen observer of the patterns & obvious connections which underlie all that we see, hear, feel & sense, both physiologically & neurologically.
There is an undeniable pull towards a meaningful rhyme & reason behind all that we experience as human persons. And I don't think it fair or accurate to classify this as mere 'wishful or 'magical' thinking', as the nihilists propose. This assumption & dismissal is immediately revealed in its own fallaciousness when we observe how the capacity for dreaming & meaning-seeking seem to be inherent tendencies built into our very design as a species. That is to say, we can't help but search for the meaning behind this or that. Therefore, this is actually an argument for profundity as actuality itself-not a negation thereof, nor is it proof of spurious superficiality or foolish notions. Nevertheless, I digress. In finale, no matter where one places oneself on the spectrum of atheism or agnosticism-or even dogmatism, whether religious or scientific, anyone with enough healthy curiosity and open-mindedness, can hopefully take away something of epistemological & existential value from this book. So, let us begin...
Evolutionary Theory: Between Gradualism & Punctuated Equilibrium
When Charles Darwin posited his evolutionary theory (or 'Darwinian Theory' as coined by Thomas Henry Huxley in April of 1860), he humbly admitted in his work 'On The Origin Of Species' that his was but mere postulation & may someday be either proven incorrect or incomplete. Indeed, one of the marks of a good academician (or even a 'layman') is intellectual integrity & skepticism. And an agnostic modus operandi, if you will, is the aim of this here work. Being that the scope of human consciousness is vast & quite possibly infinite, if one believes in some form of immortality or energial recycling via the second law of thermodynamics, not every possible angle will be explored. But I shall try my best to cover at least the major subjects of scientific & philosophical enquiry.
In continuum, Charles Darwin originally posited that species evolved gradualistically or through a slower process. Later on, 'gradualism' was addended with 'punctuated equilibrium'. The hypothesis of punctuated equilibrium arose out of the fossil gaps discovered by paleontologists & the like. They posited that, in some cases, species underwent a more 'punctuated' or sudden evolutionary shift. Furthermore, some scientists (& 'laypersons' alike) believe nature to employ both gradualism & punctuated equilibrium as she sees fit. However, there are some who criticise this view as being too 'god-of-the-gaps' in its application. Indeed many also view the substitute of 'quantum' mechanisms to account for things that are unexplained, as falling into this same scholastically dubious category. All in all, whatever one believes or follows, these inquiries are all equally valid, fascinating & worth our efforts.
While evolutionary theory originally intended to address the purely observable & natural world, this could also be metaphorically extended to the so-called 'metaphysical' realms. Perhaps every species, & especially homo sapiens, are evolving on a more metaphysical level than is directly unobservable to us. Indeed many religious texts such as those touted by Judeo-Christianity, speak of such things as 'new bodies' & immortality. And although 'outwardly we are decaying', perhaps as the Judeo-Christian scripture reads, 'inwardly we are being renewed.' As such perhaps when we physically expire within our current incarnation within this current realm of physical 'laws' & 'theories' & such, we will indeed be transformed & granted our 'new bodies' with our evolved 'spirits' or 'souls' so that we can dwell within the 'new Heaven & Earth' that have been prepared for us.
Moreover, this could be viewed as a kind of 'metaphysical gradualism' (with some dabs here & there of punctuated equilibrium). That is to say, we are 'evolving' both physically & spiritually, as many people of faith believe. Now, getting all staunch skeptics & scientists to follow this line of thought would be challenging, to say the least! However, perhaps we could cook up a digestible hypothesis for their intellective palates, at least. And of course, this is already being attempted with Grand Unified Theory (or to continue the gustatory metaphor: Grand Uni-FRIED Theory.) Ha! Of course, due to the nebulous nature of quantum mechanics, even physicists can only 'know' so much about how things work. That is why we have to concede to testable hypotheses & 'theories.' Nevertheless, it is the aim of this work to merely explore some of the larger questions looming & to pose some fun & interesting postulates.
In continuum, how could such a mechanism like 'metaphysical gradualism' (and/or 'punctuated equilibrium') work? How could the 'inward spirit' correlate with the laws of physics & chemistry to effect such an otherworldly transformation? Perhaps, since we have no way of knowing what the physical conditions will be in the 'afterlife' (if we believe in such things) this is a moot enquiry. But I'm one of those people who enjoys philosophising about this stuff anyway, so here we go. We can draw upon our current knowledge & extrapolate from that to a certain extent. For example, let's take the law of gravity as we now experience or know it.
Upon our current plane of physics as we understand it, gravity is thought of not as a 'force', but more of as a dynamic, interactional field of matter & mass. The more massive a space-time 'object' is, the stronger the gravitational exertion is upon nearby other 'objects.' Without going into the schematics of quantum particulate matter & how specifically this might be operant within the gravitational field, since even physicists don't have this yet mapped out, we can speculate broadly & make metaphorical comparisons between current working models & futuristic projections of other 'realms.'
Now, let us continue our exploration of how evolutionary effects such as 'gradualism' & 'punctuated equilibrium' may be at work on a psycho-spiritual or 'metaphysical' level. If one follows the strictly materialist view that 'physical' phenomena are mutually exclusive &/or preclusive of anything outside of them, then it is generally believed that what most deem 'metaphysical' or 'spiritual' phenomena, are arising from physical agents & forces that are just not yet fully understood. Nevertheless, the subjects explored within this work should be of some interest to both idealists or 'immaterialists/metaphysicians' & materialists. The aim here is to attempt to develop a working hypothesis of how things work not merely on a fundamental level, but also on a transcendental level. And this 'transcendental' schematic may indeed end up being more naturalistically or physically based & grounded than we currently think.
Moreover, many who follow the Judeo-Christian faith believe that God may indeed bring the 'end-times' about via purely naturalistic methods. For example, the Scriptures which speak of the sky being rolled back like a scroll & the elements being flung to the earth in a fiery, engulfing inferno could bear correspondence with actual cosmological predictions of lunar & solar events which are going to happen billions of years from now. The sun, for instance is predicted by astronomers & cosmologists & the like, to exhaust its fuel in about 5 billion years, whereby it will morph into a Red Giant star & engulf the earth in lethal cosmic radiation. Thus, Science & Religion are apparently not as at odds as many presuppose. There are many correlations between observed 'physical' phenomena & scriptural 'prophecy.' This subject was explored more at length in my work entitled, 'The Constants of Metaphysics: An Exercise In Apologetics' for those who are interested.
In continuum, perhaps gravity will enact upon so-called 'spiritual' or 'quantum/directly unobservable' matter in the 'afterlife' (for those who believe in such things) in a different way than it does within our current incarnation. Of course it makes sense that the 'otherly realms' would by necessity be composed of variant physical properties than the realms in which we currently dwell. And perhaps our current physics is even molding & shaping us on an 'inwardly-we-are-being-transformed' way as we speak. For example, maybe certain quantum particles & other 'forces' take a much more active architectural role in our existential and psycho-spiritual 'blueprint' than we know. When Judeo-Christian Scripture speaks of believers being granted 'new bodies' upon translation to the 'new heavens & the new earth', one can only imagine what specific forms things will take. But fascinating indeed it is to ponder such things!
So, let us borrow some terms & ideas from particle physics. Very broadly speaking, fermions are the 'matter particles' & bosons are the designated 'force carriers' of electromagnetism, the weak force & the strong force. Ubiquitous matter is made of what are termed 'first generation fermions.' These are composed of 'up' & 'down' quarks which form protons & neutrons, as well as forming electrons & electron neutrinos. Protons have a positive charge & a greater mass in comparison to electrons & a slightly lesser mass in comparison to neutrons. Neutrons have no electric charge & a greater mass than protons. The discovery of neutrons by Sir James Chadwick in 1932 also led to the discovery of nuclear fission in 1938.
In addition, electrons have a negative 1 charge & electron neutrinos have no electric charge with a half spin. Electron neutrinos were postulated in 1930 by Wolfgang Pauli to account for the missing momentum & energy which seemed to be apparent in beta decay (the nuclear process of isobar transformation upon emission of either an electron or a positron). In 1956, Clyde Cowan & Frederick Reignes finally discovered or detected this once-postulated particle, which is now classified as a first-generation 'lepton.'
Quarks (rhyming with 'storks') are the most fundamental & 'indivisible' particles-so far as we have been able to observe. Quarks rely upon composite subatomic particles called 'hadrons' (as in the Large Hadron Collider of physicist fame located at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) near Geneva, Switzerland). Not unlike molecules, which are held together by the electric force, quarkian hadrons are held together via the strong nuclear force. There are two categories of hadrons: baryons & mesons. Baryons are composed of an odd number of quarks (more often three such as protons & neutrons) & are what we humans are mostly made of, due to the comparable mesonic instability. Thus can we truly say that we are ODD BALLS! Couldn't resist. Mesons (such as 'pions') have an even number of quarks-usually two, with one quark & one anti-quark.
Furthermore, 'tetraquark' states or 'exotic mesons' have been observed in 2007, resonantly confirmed in 2014 & named 'Z bosons.' 'Exotic baryons' are called 'pentaquark' states & were discovered in 2015 & were named P plus C (4380) & P plus C (4450). There are many more exotic quarks that most likely exist & are currently being searched for in the Large Hadron Collider by colliding denser elements such as gold (Au) & lead (Pb) together with hadrons to produce particle shower debris that can be studied. Hadrons in isolation, known as 'free hadrons' & 'antihadrons' (meaning that they are not bound up in an atomic nucleus) are unstable & undergo rapid decay. Protons are also 'free' hadrons but have a much slower decay time. 'Free' neutrons are the longest-lived unstable particle at a half-life of about 611 seconds & a mean half-life of about 879 seconds.
Finally, to cover the basics of elementary particle physics as it relates to the subject matter, we have the antimatter particles-the stuff of Science Fiction fodder. But in this case, at least from a fundamental standpoint, a very probable particle, indeed. Each particle has its own theoretical 'anti'-particle in line with the laws of symmetry. One exception to this is the massless photon, which is the force-carrier of light, radio waves and electromagnetism, & is its own antimatter particle. Paul Dirac & Carl D. Anderson began this saga in 1932 when Dirac posited the existence of the 'positron' (the antimatter particle of the electron with the same mass but opposite electrical charge). Carl Anderson then discovered them in cosmic ray collisions observed within a cloud chamber. The particles were detected through the 'trails' that they left behind in the gas. At first, they were thought to be electrons travelling in the opposite direction of other electrons, but it was deduced that rather, they were the 'positron' with the same mass but opposite electric charge. The antiproton & antineutron were discovered in 1955 at the University of California, Berkeley by Emilio Segre & Owen Chamberlain. Since then, particles are deliberately created within particle accelerators, including complete antimatter atoms out of antiprotons & positrons.
Moreover, Paul Dirac of positron fame, was also a Titan figure of note concerning many other problems within the world of particle physics. When working out his infamous 'Dirac equation', he noticed that the infinitude of negative energy states contained in the equation would be anti-symmetrical. To compensate for this, he proposed what became known as the 'Dirac sea' of quantum particle states. In this theory, the electron vacuum (now called 'positrons') is modeled as an infinite sea of negative energy electrons (now realized to be the antimatter constituent known as 'positrons'). This positron was initially thought of as a 'hole' in the 'Dirac sea', which would be left when electrons would change into positive-energy particles when 'lifted' out of the 'Dirac sea.'
Yet Dirac attempted to reconcile this infinitude of universally negative charge-state by positing this is a mere perception of zero charge. Also, initially, the uneven masses of the proton & the electron were posited as mere electromagnetic interactions within the 'sea' yet were still thought to be problematic by some, until Hermann Weyl validated the 'hole' theory between negative & positive charges as being symmetrical. The positron was postulated in 1931 by Dirac after thought experiments involving protons & electrons annihilating to give off two photons were discounted by Robert Oppenheimer & Igor Tamm when they posited that this would cause ordinary matter to disappear too fast. The positron was discovered & validated about a year later.
Now that we've laid the groundwork to apply some of our knowledge to some more 'meta'physical postulations, let's start with Wolfgang Pauli's 'Exclusion Principle.' Wolfgang Pauli, born on April 25, 1900, who died on December 15, 1958 in Austria, became a theoretical physicist & is known as one of the pioneers of what came to be called 'quantum mechanics.' He was nominated by fellow Austrian & physicist, Albert Einstein for the Nobel Prize in Physics for this contribution. In 1930, to account for the conservation of energy, which is the First Law of Thermodynamics, he posited a particle with neutral charge named the 'neutrino' by Enrico Fermi in 1934. This particle would be discovered in 1956 by Frederick Reines & Clyde Cowan. In 1921, with the help of Danish born Niels Bohr, Pauli developed the 'Aufbau Principle', which was a working model for electron configuration within atomic shells whereby the electrons are 'built up' (the term 'aufbau' in German means 'building up').
Furthermore, Pauli was also known for deriving the hydrogen spectrum from Werner Heisenberg, Max Born & Pascual Jordan's 1925 'Matrix Theory' of quantum mechanics. This theory envisioned the properties of particles as evolving in time, much like the 'wave-formulation' that Erwin Shrodinger had been formulating. This model of 'electron jumping' from shell to shell within the atom nicely complemented the electron orbital models of Niels Bohr. To reconcile what was observed within molecular spectra with quantum mechanics, he developed the 'quantum number' of two possible values with the concept of 'spin.' The 'Exclusion Principle', also known as the 'Pauli Principle', states that no two electrons with the same quantum numbers can exist within the same space-time locale simultaneously. This specifically precludes fermions with half integer spin. He developed the theory for electrons in 1925, expanding it to include all fermions in his 'spin-statistics theorem' of 1940. This theorem proved that the 'intrinsic spin' (angular momentum not produced by orbital motion) was mathematically compatible with the statistics of collections of particles.
In addition, this theorem concluded the 'many-body wave function' for bosons (with integer spin) to remain symmetric with the exchange of two particles. In contrast, for fermions (with half-integer spin), such an exchange would be antisymmetric, thereby allowing non-interacting bosons to follow Bose-Einstein statistics & fermions to obey Fermi-Dirac statistics. B-E theory was co-developed by Satyendra Nath Bose from 1924 to 1925 with the later help of Albert Einstein to expand upon it. Bose-Einstein (or B-E) statistics describe how a collection of identical particles may occupy discrete energy states within a system of thermodynamic equilibrium. LASER (light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation) technology & helium superfluidity employ & have proven the validity of B-E condensates.
Thus, perhaps matter which is mostly composed of bosons & not fermions, due to not being beholden to the 'Pauli Principle', could, at least to pose a postulate, possess properties transcendent of fermionic-bound physics. For example, for those who believe Jesus Christ actually did 'walk on water', perhaps a physical explanation for this could be that Jesus was composed of bosonic matter & thus could achieve the metaphysical 'miracles' that he did. Also, perhaps when Judeo-Christian scripture speaks of being 'changed in the twinkling of an eye' into 'new bodies', these bodies were 'changed' into bosonic or some other unknown type of matter which could achieve such energial transformations & configurations very rapidly as B-E condensates lend to the pin-point power & precision of a laser, or as helium when cooled to a certain temperature creates a 'superfluid.' Then this would be another kind of 'punctuated equilibrium', as our 'species' 'evolves' into the next level of existence. Indeed many believe the fantasy of aliens, or extra-terrestrials to arise out of a premonition of humanity's actual evolution, both physical & mental. And although most of what I've explored in this Chapter are inchoate ideas, to me, it is a worthwhile endeavor & endlessly fascinating to contemplate.
I shall hypothesise upon other possible 'particulate matters' throughout this work to try & get an idea of how things might operate on a metaphysical level. This is a subject which had always fascinated me, & in some ways led to almost mystical states of contemplation, revelation & 'fear & trembling' before the Lord/Demiurge/Creator/Great Spirit/Deity/Supernal Force or whatever you name it. Perhaps our own psycho-spiritual evolution as a collective humanity & as individuals is also being achieved on a subtle yet profoundly transformative 'bosonic' scale perhaps in tandem with other metaphysical properties & particles that we have yet to discover. And perhaps the Judeo-Christian scripture which refers to 'outward decay yet inward renewal' is a much more direct reference to physical events such as 'spiritual gradualism', however 'subatomic' they might be, than we think.
In closing of this longer-than-expected Chapter of this work, as to the further specifics of which particle enacts upon which other particle, such as in the case of biochemistry, which enzyme, vitamin, amino acid, etc. enacts upon which metabolic pathway, to effect such physical machinations & transformations, we can only speculate. Yet the aim of this work is to do just that. Primarily, because it tickles my fancy, & secondarily, because it may lead to other thought-forms which may in the end, be more pertinent towards development of a working Grand Unified Theory than we originally thought was possible. It is my humble hope that, if anything, this work may serve at the behest of fellow 'Curiosos' & deep thinkers as well as all others who may just find it all bemusing. Whatever the outcome, I invite you further in & hope that you enjoy this quantum mind-tunneling down this particular wormhole of wonder & befuddlement.
Thine Inheritance Eternal: Genetics, Epigenetics & Metaphysics
In this Chapter, we shall explore the epic battles between 'Flesh & Spirit.' Or, to put it more scientifically (& playfully), those quantum, biochemical entities which propagate in isolation known as homo sapiens. More specifically, I wish to 'flesh-out' some possible connections between the current natural world & the world (or worlds) to come & what some of the mechanisms & phenomena may be working to achieve. I will be largely extrapolating from the standpoint of classical thermodynamics, which applies a broader approach. Statistical thermodynamics, on the other hand, processes 'microscopic' phenomena which, due to its complex & dynamic nature, we cannot truly & fully map out. Thus, when attempting to explain microscopic specifics as to 'how' these mechanisms may be operant, ...I'll do my best. Some of the areas of research & interest will be: Genetics, Medical Science & Disorders, Quantum & Particle Physics, & a more esoterically-steeped dollop of Metaphysics & Mysticism. The main theological belief systems that I will be referencing are Eastern Mysticism (in general) & Judeo-Christianity.
In the previous Chapter, we explored evolutionary theory & some of its related concepts such as 'gradualism' & 'punctuated equilibrium.' I will also be referencing those subjects in this Chapter a little bit in relation to the theme of how things might work in the psycho-spiritual realms. To clarify, I will be philosophizing upon how certain physical & psychological experiences & conditions that we humans have may actually be creating our 'new bodies' for preparation in the afterlife. Noting that not all persons believe in things like God or an afterlife, nevertheless I will assume for the sake of expediency & efficiency, that most of those still reading are 'members of the choir', so to speak. Moreover, this Chapter will cover areas of my own interest, running the gamut from Astronomy to Theoretical Physics to Genetics & Epigenetics, and even Computer Science & Programming. To start, let's begin our sojourn into the heart of that formidable double-helix entity known as Deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA.
When British chemist & X-ray crystallographer Rosalind Franklin began her work in the early 1940's, her contributions were central to the mapping of structures of DNA, RNA, viruses, coal & graphite. Originally, her work in the natural sciences & physical chemistry were only appreciated directly relating to her research position under the British Coal Utilisation Research Association (BCURA). After a post-graduate stint in Paris, France, she focused her area of research on X-ray crystallography. In 1951, while at King's College London, she discovered some key structural properties of DNA, leading to our understanding of the double-helix structure.
Credit for this discovery was unfortunately attributed to James Watson, Francis Crick & Maurice Watkins (Franklin's contentious former colleague) at the dubious exclusion of Franklin. James Watson agreed that the Nobel Prize in Physiology & Medicine that he, Crick & Watkins won in 1962, would have most likely included Franklin, were it not for a rule which excluded posthumous rewards. Franklin had passed away a few years before the 1962 recognition & nomination of the scientific discoveries & scientists. Although, many are still skeptical that this was the only reason why Franklin was not included, citing sexist bias & misogyny behind the motivations of the Nobel committee & her fellow colleagues & scientists.
Moving on, let's have a refresher course on one of the 4 major macromolecules which form the basis for all life-forms. Along with proteins, lipids & polysaccharides (a.k.a. 'complex carbohydrates'), we have nucleic acids, of DNA & RNA (ribonucleic acid) fame. The strands of the double-helix, called 'nucleotides', are composed of nitrogenous nucleobases of cytosine, guanine, adenine, thymine & a sugar called 'deoxyribose' & then a phosphate group. Each chain of nucleotides bond covalently within a 'phosphodiester' linkage between the sugar of one nucleotide & the phosphate of the next. This is the sugar/phosphate backbone of DNA. Then, the nitrogenous bases of the 'polynucleotide' strands hydrogen-bond with an ordering of A (adenine) with T (thymine) & C (cytosine) with G (guanine). These bases then are divided into two groups of single-ringed 'pyrimidines' (thymine & cytosine) & double-ringed 'purines' (adenine & guanine).
In addition, the same biological information is encoded upon both individual strands. However, amazingly, more than 98 percent of human DNA is non-coding for protein sequence patterns. Further, it is the nucleobases attached to each sugar within specific patterns & sequences which encodes genetic information. During a process called 'transcription', RNA strands are created, then exchanged with their corresponding bases. Although thymine is substituted with 'uracil' in RNA transcription. Further, RNA specifies the sequence of amino acids within proteins during the 'translation' process. 'Eukaryotic' cells, such as those found in organisms such as plants, fungi, protists & animals (including humans), DNA is arranged to form the longer structures of 'chromosomes'. During cell division & DNA replication, a complete set is provided for the daughter cells.
Moreover, in most animalian eukaryotic cells, most of the DNA is stored inside the cell nucleus, with the rest stored in the 'mitochondria.' 'Prokaryotes' (bacteria & archaea), store DNA in the 'cytoplasm' & their chromosomes are circular in shape. 'Chromatic' proteins such as 'histones', compact & organize the DNA in eukaryotes. This is key to the transcription process. The chromatins guide the interactions between proteins, as they transcribe specific parts of the DNA. In this Chapter, I shall explore various possible mechanisms which the 'microscopic' realms may be employing on the 'macroscopic' level. I will mainly explore the realms of genetics, epigenetics & particle & quantum physics as they may relate to one another on a more 'metaphysical' or 'spiritual' plane. Let's kick it off with genetics & epigenetics.
In the realm of genetics & epigenetics, a lot of complex & fascinating things are constantly going on. For instance, what microbiologists used to call 'junk DNA', we now suspect is directly involved in epigenetic variations & morphology. That is to say, there is a lot of room for speculation concerning supposed genetic inheritances & their probabilities for expression. Indeed, it is now understood at least in part, that epigenetic activity is actually what makes things happen at the DNA level. Further, it could also mean that, as considered in the Preface & Chapter 1, perhaps every human individual carries the blueprint for their 'eternal body' within them right now. Again, this would be a kind of psycho-spiritual 'gradualism' taking place. And the choices that we are making now could be 'molding' or 'encoding' our future incarnations & fates. And although we do corporeally decompose, it could be reconstituted somehow upon our 'resurrection unto final judgement' from said 'epigenetic blueprint'.
Moreover, another interesting & inspiring thing to ponder, is how what we now call & derogatorily view as 'deformities' or genetic 'malformations', or 'mutations', may also serve some more noble, spiritual purpose than we think. Perhaps these are merely 'genetic variations' which, when we are incorporated into another universe, will actualize into their true & transcendent potentialities. Indeed, many persons of faith believe that the handicaps & other deficiencies that we are born with or befall us later in life, are merely tests of our faith. Further, they believe that we shall reap our 'rewards' in some life to come, based upon how we respond to such challenges.
For example, such a person born with a condition of immobility, may believe that someday they will be freed from their current disfigurement unto abilities of levitation or flight. And this is not so far-fetched when one considers the growing evidence for the probability of multi-verses which operate under different laws of physics. For example, our 'new bodies' may be composed of entirely different quantum particulate matter, whose mechanisms enable such 'superpowers.' As to the specifics, one can only speculate. Indeed, even physicists refer to what they call 'The Standard Model' as just that-a 'model'. It is a 'working' model, nevertheless, it's an abstract extrapolation of how things may be working based upon what we can observe & know at the time when we 'construct' them. As the old scientific motto sayeth: 'Absence of evidence does not necessarily declare evidence of absence.'
Further, on a more astronomical & astrophysical note, there is a Judeo-Christian scripture which speaks of 'many mansions' which the Lord is now preparing for believers & disciples who pass the tests of this carnal entrapment. Indeed, in the realms of Astronomy & Cosmology, the phenomenon of Hubble's Law (1929), named after astronomer Edwin Hubble, which describes the rate at which our universe is currently expanding, has befuddled & beguiled many by how this rate seems to be speeding up rather than slowing down (although Georges Lemaitre had published his observations of this a few years prior to Hubble's proposition). Edwin Hubble was a North American astronomer who is considered a pioneer in the fields known as 'extragalactic astronomy' & 'observational cosmology'.
Further, he is also credited with getting the field of Astronomy to be included within the Nobel Prize for Physics category. Although Hubble's constant checked out initially, he later expressed doubt about its definitive origin. He stated that it could indeed be that no 'true expansion' exists, & that perhaps what we were observing was merely an as of yet 'hitherto unrecognized principle of nature.' Many today still ponder about what this expansion is, or indeed, as Albert Einstein posited, if it could either be expansion, or a slowly building & impending 'big crunch' or contraction. Yet later, Einstein recanted, calling his 'cosmological constant' (or 'fudge factor') which he had figured into his equations to side-step the problem, 'the biggest blunder' of his life. Although it turns out that he wasn't completely in err.
Furthermore, Edwin Hubble, based upon a six-year survey conducted at the Mount Wilson telescope, concluded that the numbers didn't quite add up. What we call 'The Big Bang', would have had to have happened not more than about 2 billion years ago. Although there are many who do not see this as a problem or as a complete refutation of cosmic expansion, such as creationists or even evolutionary theists. In addition, many physicists, astronomers, cosmologists & just philosophers wonder if perhaps, if expansion is true, that what we call 'dark matter' & 'dark energy' may have something to do with it, although there are currently many competing postulates concerning such phenomena. Yet that is fodder for another mind-bending adventure, perhaps for later in this work.
In continuum, maybe what we refer to as 'disease' within our current psychosomatic incarnations is experienced as being so frightening & painful at times, due to the finite bounds of our bodies & the world in which we often feel 'trapped.' Yet perhaps these 'diseases' are also tests of our faith, so that we can authentically 'earn' our rewards in the life to come. And many believe that in this 'new heaven' & 'new earth', within our 'new bodies', complete freedom from disease & finity of mind & limb, shall, in itself be a kind of reward for our perseverance in the truth & in our faith.
Indeed Judeo-Christian scripture does say that 'no mind can conceive of what He has prepared for those who love Him.' I encourage my readers to look up these scriptural references, even if they do not follow Judeo-Christianity. I usually provide direct scriptural quotes with book, chapter & verse. But I think that diligent search for oneself of any kind of information when curiosity arises, is the most wholesome methodology. After all, anything can be 'spoon-fed', but not everything provides full & true satisfaction & sustenance.
Moreover, perhaps those who allow sin to 'dwell within their mortal bodies' & who commit continuous deeds of evil upon the earth, will meet their final recompense with the same afflictions which they either visited upon others through their inflictions of distress, or which they mocked & persecuted within their 'targets'. When Dante Alighieri, for example, composed his 'Inferno', he envisioned such a 'hell' whereby people would receive the same physical & mental afflictions & torments which they visited upon others while on earth. Indeed, persons of many different faiths & philosophical viewpoints believe in some sort of 'pay-back' for evils committed within our mortal earthly flesh & minds.
Further, considering a probable afterworldly realm which follows its own new laws of physics, etc., these sufferings may indeed be experienced in an even more pernicious & intense way than we currently experience them. So, as a person of faith may say: 'Get right with God, for He won't spare the rod!' In closing, however, those of the faith shall never fear beyond what is necessary. For the scientific knowledge which God graciously bestows upon His creation made in the likeness of His image, will guide us. And if we repent, we shall be healed. And if we remain 'firm to the end' our current bodies shall one day suffer no more iniquity or want. There is compelling evidence that Epigenetics could very well be one of the scientifically observable workings of God! Or, if one is an evolutionist-or even an atheist or an agnostic, all is well. God is indeed, in control over all matter, as well as all 'MATTERS' whether one can believe it or not. And in direct reference to the 'God question', we can again apply the old scientific motto: 'Absence of evidence does not preclude evidence of absence.' Thus, all hail to Science AND Spirituality! They are much more dynamically intertwined & complementary than we think. But that, is a whole other story (or CHAPTER)...
In finale, this human consciousness is a journey through the Laboratory of The Flesh & The Spirit. And the 'force' behind it all apparently, for whatever purpose, wants for us to study & comprehend it. That purpose may take the form of the fantasy of the atheist that humans ARE the demi-gods who will eventually evolve to higher & higher levels of speciation & powers & abilities. Then again, that purpose may serve the faith of the theist, who believes that a supernal & beneficent Deity who created all things, is preparing all things for His glory & for their eternal exhultation & unbound joy. Broadly speaking, we are all scientists & philosophers. And there is shame only in never deeply & critically examining & 'testing' all things. Even holy scripture warns us to 'test all things'. And, for those who aren't spiritually inclined, critical thinking is also a practical necessity to safely & successfully navigate the world & actualise oneself in it. But, no matter what one takes interest in, or believes, life, though often cruel & tormentous, is rife with knowledge & wisdom to acquire & blessings to receive.
Of Wave Functions & Meandering Particles: The Light of the 'Dark Matter'
