"Light is one aspect of the Universe that, for most people, holds a deep and noticeable value in everyday life, helping them to navigate, learn from, and connect with the world around them. Yet it's not particularly difficult to imagine life without it. After all, many nonhuman animals live in lightless environments. However, as Gideon Koekoek, an associate professor of physics in the research group Gravitational Waves and Fundamental Physics"
"Gideon Koekoek, an associate professor of physics in the research group Gravitational Waves and Fundamental Physics at Maastricht University, discusses in this lecture at the Royal Institution in London from April 2025, such a reality would be impossible. Koekoek pairs an exploration of fundamental physics with a series of experiments, making fascinating connections that build towards the conclusion that light in our Universe occurred not by chance, but through inevitability."
Light plays a foundational role in human experience, enabling navigation, learning, and connection with the surrounding world. Many nonhuman animals inhabit lightless environments, showing that life can adapt without sunlight. Despite the existence of dark ecosystems, a complete absence of light in the Universe is not physically viable. Combining principles of fundamental physics with controlled experiments reveals deep connections between physical laws and the emergence of electromagnetic radiation. These connections indicate that the presence of light is a necessary outcome of the Universe's physical structure and dynamics rather than a fortunate accident.
Read at Aeon
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]