Skip to main content

Understanding universe, time, space: A crucial, unresolved question before humanity

By Prof Sudhanshu Tripathi* 

A crucial question before humanity, still unresolved, is to comprehend the true nature and expanse of Time and Space in Universe. If both are indeed limitless, there is no question then to go beyond them. Because both Time and Space are indeed the two key determinants in this mundane world which define the very expanse of the life period of all living organisms and non-living entities and their relative spatial area producing mental and extra-mental consciousness. 
If these two determinants are absent in the world or even beyond, there will be no order or balance in the universe and that may result into utter cacophony or chaos to imagine. Indeed it is almost next to impossible to imagine the vast extant of the universe. In fact, the universe has been differently explained in the religious scriptures as well as in modern sciences. While millions of Akaash Gangas (Milky Ways) or Galaxies constitute to form a Universe, the galaxy in itself is very mysterious as it is supposed to comprise of hundreds or thousands of universe. That in essence defines the very position of not only the planet earth in the universe but also all living creatures and non-living objects scattered on the earth and even beyond.
Fortunately or unfortunately time is supposed to move only in one direction which is a forward movement in all circumstances as regards our temporal world is concerned. Indeed the motion of time can’t be reversed by us as human-beings just as a computer/monitor is shifted to prior dates expanding from days to months so as to recover its prior health as well as performance which is certainly better to what it obtains today. As regards space while most of the known living entities do possess relatively smaller place to couch their selves having relatively lesser period of their sustenance on earth, the non-living objects may or may not have larger space to occupy with considerably long time-span to exist. An obvious question arises here whether the universe is a living entity or not and what exactly is its life span in the cosmos. What then is the relation between the universe and cosmos?
Since the universe is almost unknown today or just 5 to 6% is said to have been explored by the scientist across the world, it is indeed mysterious and looks beyond the scope of empirical and verifiable knowledge. Although space missions from advanced countries viz. the US, Russia, UK, China and few more including India have so far collected very relevant information and knowledge in this field, yet unfortunately much still remains away from scientific comprehension and that evidently underscores the substance of the mysterious universe. This is why an inquisitive mind commonly takes recourse to imagination or contemplation or ultimately philosophy and metaphysics to explore the facts and truths regarding the universe and aforesaid determinants viz. time and space.
As the world has its own limits to explore, then an obvious question arises as to how to explore to determine the expanse of time and space in the world or even beyond into the space. These determinants may largely be supposed to work most probably due to the gravitational force of Earth and the planetary movements of different planets into the solar system including other celestial bodies in the universe. Now the question is that why does gravitational force emerge to affect the other celestial bodies in the space. And it is a peculiar phenomenon that why most of the planets revolve around Sun. Earlier it was commonly accepted that the sun revolves around the earth as it is at the centre of the universe until Nicholas Copernicus contradicted this assertion in the circa 1500.
Why is the sun supposed to be at the centre of the universe? Because the sun is the very large or perhaps the biggest known celestial body in the universe having a number of planets revolving around it and that together with these planets constitutes as a whole and that forms its own solar system visible from the earth or with the help of telescopes. Having a huge gaseous mass undergoing constant nuclear fission, thereby producing unimaginably high temperature and light as well as sound therein, creates continuous burning evaporation declining and reducing their mass of the other heavenly bodies there-around. Because it leads to conversion of celestial mass into various forms of energy like heat, light and sound and more, apart from creating magnetic or even electro-magnetic fields around them. Almost all celestial bodies being very huge in size and weight do possess boiling magma, which happens to be fluid or semifluid rocks or reefs lying much deeper inside from their outward surface.
In fact, a huge body having boiling magma inevitably moves in either direction due to liquefied mass inside it – either spins or rotates – and such movement ultimately leads to centripetal or centrifugal forces to emerge and engulf the surrounding heavenly bodies. Thus it may be due excessive heat of the sun, which in terms of science is a huge ball of boiling flames comprising of burning gases, thereby reflecting heat and light with decreasing intensity in proportion to the distance away from the sun. Perhaps it is due to centripetal force that exists between the sun and all other planets that these (planets) are configured around the sun and their constant spinning at their respective axis creates the phenomenon of centrifugal force that counter-balances the centripetal force so as to result into their fixed distance from the sun.
While the heat or consequent light is the source of life on the earth, that may possibly be true with respect to few other planets as well in the universe, the progressive fall in temperature with increasing distance from its source, as the sun here stands out, may be significant as regards gravitational force of a particular celestial body in the universe including planets and the sun. Keeping huge mass with them, these celestial bodies or planets rotate or revolve on their axis and around a bigger heavenly body respectively most likely due to the so-obtained temperature difference from the sun to these celestial bodies and the melting magma producing outward thrusts to create movements as already stated. The consequent phenomenon becomes especially important to cite here as these heavenly bodies themselves produce heat from their inner core and the temperature difference from their core to their surface and also the same from the sun perhaps largely produces spinning movement in them on their axis and also leads to their revolving around the sun due to it being the huge most celestial body.
Further the direction of spin may not be same in each of the celestial body or the planet as a particular incline of their mass may not be same in all such bodies. Thus clock-wise or anti-clock wise spin movement of these celestial bodies. The origin of the gravitational force of the earth appears to be due to its rotation on its axis including its simultaneous revolution around the sun. But why does the earth rotate and simultaneously revolve around the sun. And that is possibly the phenomenon with all the known planets in the solar system.
If these facts hold substance then the relative movements of these planets - whether on their respective axis or around the sun - may reasonably be supposed to create an environment characterized by its marked presence into duration and expanse. In fact, the spinning and revolving of these planets having their huge mass inevitably lead to attraction and similar counter-attraction or repulsion or similar counter-repulsion among all planets and other celestial bodies viz. asteroids and other unknown astral bodies as well.
While mass factor in all heavenly bodies has its own contributory role to manifest into various forms to lead to creating a duration and space, it definitely has relative context or relativity factor to actualize into respective inter-body relations and intra-body changes. And for that it is but necessary to understand the Universe: what exactly it is or what is its nature, scope and also its powers as well. What is then the relation between Universe and Cosmos? The Google answer explains thus: “Cosmos” is a whole harmonious and orderly system that is governed by natural law while “universe” is everything that exists including time and space, matter, and the laws that govern them. How much this answer explains the truth is itself a mystery.
---
*Dept. Political Science, MDPG College, Pratapagarh (UP)

Comments

TRENDING

1857 War of Independence... when Hindu-Muslim separatism, hatred wasn't an issue

"The Sepoy Revolt at Meerut", Illustrated London News, 1857  By Shamsul Islam* Large sections of Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs unitedly challenged the greatest imperialist power, Britain, during India’s First War of Independence which began on May 10, 1857; the day being Sunday. This extraordinary unity, naturally, unnerved the firangees and made them realize that if their rule was to continue in India, it could happen only when Hindus and Muslims, the largest two religious communities were divided on communal lines.

The curious case of multiple entries of a female voter of Maharashtra: What ECI's online voter records reveal

By Venkatesh Nayak*  Cyberspace is agog with data, names and documents which question the reliability of the electoral rolls prepared by the electoral bureaucracy in Maharashtra prior to the General Elections conducted in 2024. One such example of deep dive probing has brought to the surface, the name of one female voter in the 132-Nalasopara (Gen) Vidhan Sabha Constituency in Maharashtra. Nalasopara is part of the Palghar (ST) Lok Sabha constituency. This media report claims that this individual's name figures multiple times in the voter list of the same constituency.

N-power plant at Mithi Virdi: CRZ nod is arbitrary, without jurisdiction

By Krishnakant* A case-appeal has been filed against the order of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and others granting CRZ clearance for establishment of intake and outfall facility for proposed 6000 MWe Nuclear Power Plant at Mithi Virdi, District Bhavnagar, Gujarat by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) vide order in F 11-23 /2014-IA- III dated March 3, 2015. The case-appeal in the National Green Tribunal at Western Bench at Pune is filed by Shaktisinh Gohil, Sarpanch of Jasapara; Hajabhai Dihora of Mithi Virdi; Jagrutiben Gohil of Jasapara; Krishnakant and Rohit Prajapati activist of the Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a notice to the MoEF&CC, Gujarat Pollution Control Board, Gujarat Coastal Zone Management Authority, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and case is kept for hearing on August 20, 2015. Appeal No. 23 of 2015 (WZ) is filed, a...

Spirit of leadership vs bondage: Of empowered chairman of 100-acre social forestry coop

By Gagan Sethi*  This is about Khoda Sava, a young Dalit belonging to the Vankar sub-caste, who worked as a bonded labourer in a village near Vadgam in Banskantha district of North Gujarat. The year was 1982. Khoda had taken a loan of Rs 7,000 from the village sarpanch, a powerful landlord doing money-lending as his side business. Khoda, who had taken the loan for marriage, was landless. Normally, villagers would mortgage their land if they took loan from the sarpanch. But Khoda had no land. He had no option but to enter into a bondage agreement with the sarpanch in order to repay the loan. Working in bondage on the sarpanch’s field meant that he would be paid Rs 1,200 per annum, from which his loan amount with interest would be deducted. He was also obliged not to leave the sarpanch’s field and work as daily wager somewhere else. At the same time, Khoda was offered meal once a day, and his wife job as agricultural worker on a “priority basis”. That year, I was working as secretary...

Ground reality: Israel would a remain Jewish state, attempt to overthrow it will be futile

By NS Venkataraman*  Now that truce has been arrived at between Israel and Hamas for a period of four days and with release of a few hostages from both sides, there is hope that truce would be further extended and the intensity of war would become significantly less. This likely “truce period” gives an opportunity for the sworn supporters and bitter opponents of Hamas as well as Israel and the observers around the world to introspect on the happenings and whether this war could have been avoided. There is prolonged debate for the last several decades as to whom the present region that has been provided to Jews after the World War II belong. View of some people is that Jews have been occupants earlier and therefore, the region should belong to Jews only. However, Christians and those belonging to Islam have also lived in this regions for long period. While Christians make no claim, the dispute is between Jews and those who claim themselves to be Palestinians. In any case...

Proposed Modi yatra from Jharkhand an 'insult' of Adivasi hero Birsa Munda: JMM

Counterview Desk  The civil rights network, Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha (JMM), which claims to have 30 grassroots groups under its wings, has decided to launch Save Democracy campaign to oppose Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Vikasit Bharat Sankalp Yatra to be launched on November 15 from the village of legendary 19th century tribal independence leader Birsa Munda from Ulihatu (Khunti district).

Two more "aadhaar-linked" Jharkhand deaths: 17 die of starvation since Sept 2017

Kaleshwar's sons Santosh and Mantosh Counterview Desk A fact-finding team of the Right to Feed Campaign, pointing towards the death of two more persons due to starvation in Jharkhand, has said that this has happened because of the absence of aadhaar, leading to “persistent lack of food at home and unavailability of any means of earning.” It has disputed the state government claims that these deaths are due to reasons other than starvation, adding, the authorities have “done nothing” to reduce the alarming state of food insecurity in the state.

Govt of India "tarnishing" NGO reputation, dossier leaked selectively: Amnesty

Counterview Desk Amnesty International India has said that a deliberate attempt is being made to tarnish its reputation by leaking a dossier, supposedly made by investigating agencies, to media without giving it access to any such information. The high profile NGO’s claim follows a Times Now report about proceedings launched by investigative agencies, including Enforcement Directorate (ED) against the rights body for “violations” of rules pertaining to overseas donations.

How AMU student politics prioritises Islamist ideologies rather than addressing campus-specific concerns

By Yanis Iqbal*  In his recent piece titled "Unmasking the Power Struggles of Soqme Teachers Behind the AMU Students’ Agitation," Mohammad Sajjad, professor of modern and contemporary Indian history at the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), has  has approached the recent  protests against fee increases at AMU with a skeptical eye. He portrays them not as a pure, student-led reaction to financial burdens, but as possibly intertwined with deeper institutional rivalries. While recognizing that the university administration faces ongoing demands from the government and the University Grants Commission (UGC) to boost self-generated revenue via fee adjustments, he highlights a key shortfall: neither the administration nor the protesters have shared clear, comparative data on fee structures or their rationale.