Great Questions Group @ MarkDeMatteo.com

Hey Friends!

I’m going to share a couple of emails I received from two members of our Group in regard to two of the messages I have broadcast.

I thought perhaps their comments and my replies might shed some additional light on the info I shared in the audios each refers to.

I am keeping the sender’s info private and have slightly modified the text to make it more suitable for posting here.

The first email is in regard to Audio #8 “A Firm Foundation”

Hi Mark,

 You know, of course, that the Sun has, in fact, risen in the West several times during natural history. At present, the poles are shifting about 40 km/year. So at some point, the Sun will again rise in the West!

 Just an interesting and fun science fact!!

 Thanks for the audio!!  Keep ’em coming.

Hi ______

Thanks for your input!

Have indeed heard about the studies on the switching magnetic polls.

Actually it is why I referred to the earth’s rotation and “east” pertaining more to its geographic position rather than it’s magnetic.

Even if the magnetic poles switched, the rotational poles have remained constant, so the Sun would still rise over the Atlantic side of the North American continent, as it always has, even though a compass needle would point west.

Pleased you are enjoying the messages!

Have a great day!

This second email refers to Audio #17 “Our Tri-Universe”

Mark,

 Interesting as always.  I’d like to compliment you on your intellectual curiosity and on the organized way in which you have pursued the subject.  I always listen carefully and appreciate the time you have put into this project.

 Here are a few comments.  You may wish to pursue them as you continue your quest, as I’m sure you will.

 – as you know, he cause and effect principle is controversial in physics.  Beta radiation (emission of an electron from an atom) is thought to be purely random, that is, without cause.  The appearance and disappearance of virtual particles in otherwise empty space is also random — there is believed to be no cause.  So there are phenomena in the world which are thought to have no known cause.  There is also a definitional problem: consider an apple hung by a string from a tree limb.  I cut the string with a razor.  What causes the apple to fall?  Is it my brain, which decides to cut the string, or is it the motion of my hand with the razor.  Or is it the razor cutting the string.  Or is it gravity?  If an effect has a previous cause, then that cause was the effect of a earlier cause, and so on, back to the beginning of time. What is the definition of “cause”?  Not easy to answer.

– Energy exists in space, separate from matter as well existing as matter.  The forms of energy are many: kinetic energy, heat energy (the random motion of molecules), potential energy, chemical energy (a form of potential energy), electromagnetic energy, and matter (energy stored in the form of matter), to name several.  Then there is the recently-discovered and little-understood dark energy, which makes up 70% of the universe.  In addition there is dark matter — nobody knows what it is, but it exerts gravitational force on regular matter.  It makes up about 25% of the universe.  That leaves ordinary matter and energy, which make up abut 5 % of the universe.

– All interesting stuff!  I’m trying to learn about these things when I have time.

Anyway, keep it coming.  I think you are causing a lot of people to think about these things more deeply than they ever have.  

Hi_____

First, thank you for your kind remarks, encouragement and your input.

 I appreciate  your mutual interest in these subjects.

As I’ve also shared in the messages, I likewise am still and always will be, a continuous student, as I know there are still many things I have yet to learn!

Here are some hopefully clarifying comments on your comments:

Regarding Cause and Effect in physics, the main issue I believe, is when we are considering the difference between established physical law and physical theory.

From all my studies, it seems consistent, that in the realm of actual, testable physical sciences, Causality is inviolable–the known Laws of Physics all operate by a firm cause and effect relationship.

However, when we get into realm of scientific theories, hypotheses, etc., things become far more uncertain.

While Beta Radiation may seem to be random at our current level of understanding, we must remember that this phenomena falls within the realm of Atomic Theory–where there is still much we don’t understand.

In light of this uncertainty and the Cause/Effect relationship that does exist in every known Law of Science, it seems quite probable that there is also a cause for this effect, that we have simply not yet come to understand.

When considering such topics as “Dark Matter, Dark Energy and Virtual Particles”, we must remember that this is a hypothetical arena that seems, at least thus far, to be beyond the realm of testable and therefore verifiable science.

As you mentioned, “nobody really knows what it is”.

In spite of the interesting conjecture I have read about regarding these postulated entities, to my knowledge, no one has ever actually captured a “sample” or in anyway proven that they do exist.

This is amazing, for in light of the common-sense approach I prefer to embrace in my studies, with all of our many and various deep-space probes launched to date, why have we found no real tangible evidence of their existence?

Furthermore I find it astounding that they go on to foment the supposition that fully 95% of our cosmos is comprised of this hypothetic “Dark Stuff” and therefore only 5% of the cosmos we live in is perceivable to our 5 senses and able to be examined through the scientific method!

This is very strange indeed and seems, I freely admit, to strain one’s common sense.

Ah, the unusual world of theoretical cosmology!

So therefore, in light of what we do know is scientifically verifiable and proven at this time, it is safe to say that our cosmos is clearly comprised of just the three basic components we discussed: Space, Mass/Energy & Time.

In fact, from my observations, I would surmise that there is perhaps another reason for the proposed existence of these hypothetical phantom entities–particularly “Dark Energy & Matter”.

One of the many unexplained mysteries of cosmology is how a rapidly expanding universe could have given rise to the structure of the planets and stars that exist.

While Gravity is often cited as the cause, the reality is, this force is not great enough to collect and pack matter into a solid planet, let alone densely enough to create the thermonuclear furnace of a star–and every knowledgeable physicist knows this.

For while gravitational force will indeed begin to draw any kind of matter together, in short order, simple gas pressure will quickly overcome it with a greater force and drive any collecting matter apart.

And this is no complex problem of physics either, for any normal person with basic observational knowledge of how the world works will quickly understand this reality once this is explained to them–for I have done so many times.

In fact, it is quite the “eye-opener”.

Just how did all the planets and stars get here?  What legitimate scientific laws can we point to that can account for their existence?

Hence, some kind of vast and presently unseen “coalescing” and “binding” force has to be in effect to not only to form the structure of the cosmos, but also to now continue to hold it together.

From what I can surmise from the bulk of my reading on this topic, “Dark Stuff” in general, is the postulated attempt to provide some kind of possible cause for this unexplained effect in the cosmos.

Furthermore, it is the reality of this binding effect which is often sited as the “proof” of the existence of these “Dark Entities”.

However, as we explore this further in upcoming messages, we will discuss  whether this hypothetical unseen cause is truly adequate for the cosmic binding effect we do observe.

In regard to energy, while it might not seem obvious at first glance, it is yet indeed true, as my studies have consistently confirmed, that boiled down to the broadest general level, all forms of energy can be classified into one of those three basic types that I mention in message 17: Electromagnetic, Gravitational and Nuclear.

Actually, when I first heard that statement expressed by a scientist, I wasn’t entirely sure of it myself.

However, the issue was that I initially didn’t fully realize just how broad the different types of Electromagnetic energies are.

The name itself can be a little misleading, for while it does obviously include electricity and magnetism, it additionally encompasses all the various types of wave and particle energies science has ever tangibly discovered and quantified.

Included in these would be all types of fluid and sound wave energetics, along with both long to short wave radio waves, micro waves, infra-red (heat), visible light (the small part of the E/M spectrum our eyes are tuned to see, or literally, all the colors of the Rainbow!) UV (invisible tanning rays–remember “Black Lights”?), along with X-Rays, Alpha, Beta & Gamma Rays, all of which are all classified as various types of E/M energies.

As an interesting little factoid, it is fascinating to note that most of these energies, especially on the higher or more energetic end of the spectrum, apparently have the ability to manifest themselves interchangeably in both wave and particle forms–another little topic we will discuss further at a later date.

In regard to both Potential and Kinetic energy, we must remember that these are not actually different types of energy, but rather different states–that of being either stored or active.

As a couple quick and simple examples:  A skier standing at the top of a hill has Potential or stored gravitational energy.  Once she starts down the hill, that gravitational energy becomes active and is now said to be kinetic, as the force or energy of gravity is now pulling her down the hill.

Another one would be gasoline:  While it is sometimes referred to a potential chemical energy, it is really stored heat and light energies–both which are types of E/M energy–as we already know from its primary use in powering internal combustion engines.

However, in both cases whether the state was Potential or Kinetic, the type of energy remained the same: Gravitational and Chemical or E/M, respectively.

So again, just to clarify, while there are indeed numerous specialized types of energy classifications, when boiled down to their most general categories, it is safe to say that they accurately fall into the three broad types mentioned above.

And furthermore, while I have already addressed the issue of the hypothetical “Dark Energy”, it is important to point out that, since it is precisely just that, hypothetical, and has not been tangibly discovered, measured or quantified, it therefore cannot be legitimately classified as a true, scientifically verified type of energy and consequently has no true impact on our three foundational classes of energetics.

Now, finally, regarding your apple on a string example, I offer a few thoughts for your consideration.

First of all, let’s take a quick look at a definition for the word “cause” in Webster’s:  “That which produces, incites or contributes to a result or an effect.”

Not took complicated–seems simple enough for most of us to understand.

Next, you asked the question as to what was the initial cause of the apple ultimately falling.

In this example the initial cause was the thought in your mind, for had it not occurred, nothing else in your example would have subsequently happened.

Actually, your illustration  is simply an example of a cascade in a series of cause and effect relationships.

Beginning in your mind, it continues through a steady chain of events, each of which is dependent on the one preceding it, from the complex bio-physical process of the impulse of your brain, moving to the proper nerves to the right muscle fibers, to make a coordinated move with your hand and eyes to hold the razor and cut the string–and I am just scratching the surface, for in reality, it is far, far more complex that this–then to the potential gravitational energy becoming kinetic and pulling downward on the apple and ultimately with it ending up perhaps in your hand!

The salient fact is that here again, in another real-world example, there is indeed a definite and continuous cause and effect relationship:  Interrupt any link in the chain–prevent any cause or effect–and the cascade ceases.

And you touched on an important point:  Can we logically follow this cause and effect relationship back far enough to perhaps find some of the foundational causes of our existence?

In light of what I had learned up to this point in my journey, it certainly seemed like a rational premise.

For we must remember that Causality is in actuality, one of the best proven Laws of Science–there are no tangible realms in which it is not known to be in effect.

It might be explained away in the hypothetical or the suppositional and we may not be aware of an adequate cause for effects in theoretical arenas we don’t yet fully understand yet, but as far as the real, testable and verifiable world we live in is concerned, the undeniable fact is that the Law of Cause and Effect has never been known to be violated.

As I shared in message #12 which dealt with my discovery of this Law, it became a powerful tool in helping me ultimately discover some of the answers to the GQ.

Anyway, certainly am pleased that you are enjoying the messages and happy to have you with us!

Have a great day!