Originally posted by Griego
Must read Hawking.
Sorry Saudaukar. 
I just like to listen to people smarter than myself on a subject that I find intriguing.
Im by no means an expert - I simply find the subject interesting as well and read on it for my own pleasure. Beyond discussing the theory and possible implications, my knowledge of the actual scientific mechanics is rather limited.
Hawking is mind boggling - but there are other authors whose names I cant recall at this time who explain much of theortical and multidimentional physics in more layman terms. There is a book called "Hyperspace" (again, lost name of author) which goes into explaing how multidementional travel/existance can be used to combat either the Big Crunch or the Big Freeze.. fancinating stuff. This of course is the ultimate in "evolutionary thought" as our third dimentional physical self would be a none issue - existance would switch to a different plain which can be mathmatically explained but IMPOSSIBLE to understand by the human mind.
It would be like asking a two dementional being on a peice of paper to explain concepts such as "up," "down," and "volume." They wouldnt be able to do it.
In theory, the third dimention could be "explained" to a two dimentional being by drawing a cross consisting of six squares. Of course, this, when "folded" properly creates a cube, and thus, volume, however this 2D being wouldnt be able to grasp "fold" because it deviated from their laws of physics. He can only visualize the constuct.
The next most complex dimention cant be understood by us either - it can be "explained" to us by drawing or constructing a 3D "cross" of 8 cubes aranged four long and four on each side of the second to the top cube. Of course, just as a 2D being cant understand the word "fold" - how could we possibly understand how to "fold" this 3D cross of 8 cubes into what the next dimention actually looks like? Our perceived laws of physics state that "folding" this object is impossible - just as the 2D being thinks of the third dimention.
In terms of its implications for surviving the end theories, if a 2D stick figure is drawn on a peice of paper, and you set that peice of paper on fire, the only way for him to escape is to abandon the 2D laws of physics and move OFF the paper by going "up." In the same way - whatever "up" is in terms of the 3D/4D theory, it is how we will eventually make the correct end theory a non-issue.
This also plays into how space and time change as you pass the event horizon of a black hole and draw nearer to the singularity. Our 3D laws of physics cant explain (and thus, we cannot understand) what is actually happening at the singularity because our minds cant grasp a "hole" in three dimentional space. Existance at the singularity is thought to be impossible by us because of the enormous force of gravity and as a result, the warping of physical matter as well as both space AND time - but in reality, we have no clue whats going on. We can "explain" this (or confuse the issue further depending on your viewpoint) by going into what actually changes as time and space are altered.
Theoretically, for example, it would be possible to "view" the past using light. If you were on a spacecraft which was equipt with a telescope of infinate power which was able to exceed the speed of light (whole nother issue) you could outrun the light from Earth from 50 years ago and "tune in" to the light from August 1945 and watch two certain portions of Japan light up. (as an interesting supliment, a space craft traveling at the speed of light can circumvent the ENTIRE visual/known universe in 56 years ship time - once you return to Earth, however, Sol (the sun) would be but a crisp, and Earth would be an icecube. This is all because speed changes gravitational forces and gravity alters time.)
However, if time and space are altered to the extent that they are "in" (we dont know the proper term - again - "up" to 2D being) the singularity, existance cannot be measured by space OR time. It simply stops. What then? How do you measure existance without time? This is difficult for most people to grasp because time is what we measure EVERYTHING by - only not many people understand that time is not constant. Gravity is what the universe is measured by - it effects EVERYTHING in one way or another.
The singularity of a black hole "goes" somewhere, but we arent quite sure where. The matter/energy "swallowed up" by a black hole appears to "disappear" - only page one, book one, of science 101 states "matter cannot be created or destroyed" so we are able to "explain" but we are NOT able to "understand" what is happening.
Isnt this more fun than discussing whether or not God took ribs out of Adam's chest and created woman? Besides... Im sure feminists will succeed in getting that taken out of the Bible in 10 years anyway.
Flame on.
