How to Destroy the Universe in Three Simple Steps

Explore the Universe

One of the most thought provoking concepts that science fiction can explore is the use of the entire universe in a story. Not just stuck in Earth’s galaxy, like most Star Trek episodes, or stuck in some galaxy a long time ago and far, far away like in Star Wars, or even stuck jumping from galaxy to galaxy like in Star Gate: Universe, but exploring the universe without any restriction. If the entire universe can be used, then a reader’s mind can be expanded further.

Once you’ve worked out a story line that will enable you to explore the entire universe, the next step would be to enable your characters to travel forward and back along the timelines. The third step would be for them to find a way to destroy the universe. (Keep making those ideas bigger!)

Destroy the Universe (in Doctor Who)

Using the entire universe, traveling along the timelines, then encountering a plan to destroy the universe, have been recurring themes in a British TV series called Doctor Who.

In the episode Logopolis, the universe was being kept alive by a team of mathematicians. They worked to make sure the mathematics that underpinned the physics of reality continued. A rogue character (The Master) decided to hold the universe to ransom, kill some of the mathematicians, and then begin systematically destroying galaxies. The main character, (The Doctor), had to find a solution to make sure he didn’t destroy the universe.

In Terminus, The Doctor encounters a ship that had caused the collapse of the previous universe, and so had been at the epicenter of the creation of this one. The Doctor has to prevent the alien’s ship from being started, and destroying the universe again.

In Journey’s End, a villain known as Davros created a reality bomb that could destroy the electromagnetic bonds between all particles across multiverses, thereby wiping out everything. Of course, The Doctor, and a cosmos of teams from across space, time and parallel realities, make sure he doesn’t destroy the universe.

In the episode The Big Bang, the universe does actually collapse, and the Doctor uses saved particles from the previously collapsed universe to effectively reboot it, temporarily trapping him outside of existence.

Kardashev Scale

But could it really be possible? Could humans one day reach beyond a Kardashev scale of civilization, and command the power of the entire universe?

While we might not ever be able to command the energy of the entire universe without becoming bigger than it and spreading across multiverses, we do have the ability to control its existence. A simple reconfiguration of the Hadron Collider, or any other collider for that matter, would give us the power to destroy the entire universe!

Of course, this is theoretical. You really don’t want anyone to try to prove it!

Here’s the science. The universe has a quantum field known as the Higgs Field. This field is thought to exist at a higher energy state than can be detected – a fake vacuum. (Vacuum state is when a particle is at its lowest energy level.) We can get into this field using quantum tunneling. If we send a particle through the field that is at a lower energy level and is able to retain its energy level when it exits, it will disrupt the Higgs Field, resulting in a domino effect that explosively releases the Higgs Field’s potential energy.

This is known as Vacuum Decay.

The Higgs Field and Quantum Tunneling

The Higgs Field, underpinning the entire structure of reality, would release its energy at the speed of light, like a very fast gas explosion. It would destroy the universe, and rewrite physics in the expanding area. Eventually, after billions of years, the universe would be destroyed.

Of course, quantum tunneling is essential for nuclear fusion in stars, and so this happens all the time. The difficulty is finding a way to quantum tunnel into a Higgs Field with a particle that is able to retain the same energy state when it comes out.

I’ll leave that up to you to work out how to do it.

If you can find a way to do it, it would be like shooting a bullet into a block of dynamite. Destruction of the universe ensured.

The Plan to Destroy the Universe

So, if you’re planning to destroy the universe (or planning to write a story about the destruction of the universe) here is a summary to get you started:

Step 1. Locate the Higgs Field
Step 2. Send a particle, via quantum tunneling, through it.
Step 3. Ensure the particle comes out the other side with the same energy level
Step 4. There is no step 4. Though, you may wish to laugh maniacally in the 0.001% of a second you would have before the universe begins collapsing around you at the speed of light.

I look forward to reading your ‘terrorists take over the Hadron Collider and hold the universe to ransom’ stories!

Review of Ancient Aliens “Earth’s Black Holes”

Playgrounds for Exotic Physics

One of my guilty pleasures is chilling with a glass of wine while watching the latest Ancient Aliens. For a science fiction writer, it is full of pieces of gold that could be weaved into the next short story, or a one-liner that helps expand on a futuristic environment. I thoroughly recommend it, if only to broaden your perceptions.

Earth’s Black Holes

Earth’s Black Holes was surprising in that it not only gave some really serious science (with actual interviews with real scientists) and some fantastic imagery of black holes (along with some dramatic voice-overs) it was creative and accessible enough that I’m sure many kids would have loved this episode.

Physicists

An integral part of the first section was the research done at the SLACK national accelerator laboratory. Commentary was provided by Michael Dennin Ph.D Physicist at the University of California – Irvine, and John Brandenburg Ph. D Plasma Physicist at Orbital Technologies. Fascinating stuff. I had always thought that black holes were collapsed stars, involving intense gravity, and the cessation of various physical laws. But black holes can be created by other means, especially via just about any kind of vortex. Gravitational, electromagnetic, you name it. Get rid of some electrons in a certain way, and a vortex or hole will automatically appear.

Portals through space / time

I was interested in the idea that the SF trope about black holes being a portal through space / time could actually be true in a smaller sense. The environment of Earth, even just the weather, is ripe for portal creation. The idea of any part of the environment forming a vortex that could transport you through space / time is quite attractive for me, and has probably contributed to thousands of Science Fiction and Fantasy stories over the decades for other writers, too. (The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, anyone?)

Aliens!

Of course, the basic premise of Ancient Aliens is to make sure that any idea mentioned ends up making some kind of connection with aliens. So, of course, these portals or pockets created by electromagnetic squalls would be ideal for aliens to visit Earth via, say a quick hi, drop some knowledge, then split again. There was discussion about the South Atlantic Anomaly, and how it is a localized reversal of the EM field across South America, information about how nature can create its own electrodynamic space/time portals, and a lot more.

Compelling Stuff!

Skipping Journeys

I personally loved it because it used an idea that has been a feature of many of my stories for over 10 years, namely finding a way to either flash to another location through instant teleportation, or space folding, or wormholes, or tunnels through space and time. Essentially, I’ve always wanted to get rid of any boring ‘travel’ or unnecessary ‘journey’ paragraphs. (Yes, I’m one of those who has never made it past the first few chapters of Lord of the Rings – OMG a journey??? Saw it at the cinema instead!)

When I was a kid, I used to find stairs so boring that I would simply jump flights of them. My friends would slide or skate down the banisters, but even that was a bit slow for me. Now, if I could find a way to physically and instantly travel almost anywhere in the universe, I’d be very happy, (As would my hips, and probably later my replacement hips.) I’d love to jump about one of the Magellanic Clouds one day!

Ancient Aliens Convention

In its 13th year, the series has become popular enough that it now has its own annual convention, called Alien Con, not only featuring presenters of the programme, but also X-Files and Star Trek luminaries. At the time of writing, David Duchovny, Gates McFadden and Robert Picardo for the June 2018 convention. The marketing is USA-only, so I had to set up a fake USA address to find out more from the robot system, but I’ve since been in contact with one of the organizers of the convention, and things look like they’re going to be pretty wild.

As a brand, Giorgio A. Tsoukalos is well known, and it would be great to rub shoulders with him, learn a bit about the behind the scenes stuff that goes on. Meeting Erich Von Daniken would also be a highlight, and he’s not in as many episodes as I’d like. I read his book in the 70s, and was quite taken with it. Chariots of the Gods. It has probably influenced quite a lot of my SF writing over the years, so I’m sure a convention would elicit more interesting insights from him that would not otherwise be seen in a restricted 40 minute format.

Unfortunately, beyond my budget

Most tickets have already sold out (US$549 Gold Pass!) A 14h flight from Melbourne to Pasadena (AU$1500) plus accommodation (US$200pn) plus food and drinks and local travel (probably lots of drinks!) I’d be expecting to pay, at a bare minimum, about AU$4000 for the weekend. So, hopefully there’ll be some Youtube videos afterwards.

If you want to know more about the Ancient Aliens Convention, check out the website here:

The Alien Con

Being a writer, I wanted to know how much I could advertise my book Alien Frequency in their programme guide for. Unfortunately, a bit beyond my budget. US$1000 for a page – more than I earn in a month! (Quarter pages available for US$300)

Maybe next year.