© theotherpress © Features February 18, 2004 understanding our place in the uni- verse. Earth is not the centre of space, and our galaxy is just one of billions in the universe that has no centre. Our entire three-dimension- al universe could be just a thin “membrane.” We can speculate about a higher-dimensional, hyper- space in which our flat “membrane” is embedded. It turns out that such a hyper- space must have six dimensions in order to accommodate three-dimen- sional spaces like ours. This conclu- sion comes from the famous String Theory—a theory that is able to connect gravitational force with the other three natural forces (strong, weak, and electromagnetic). String Theory is consistent only if strings originally inhabit a ten-dimensinal space-time. The extra six dimen- sions are now assumed to be curled up so tight they pass undetected by large objects such as humans—or even electrons. Theorists think that a space in our universe once had nine dimensions, all on equal foot- ing. Early in cosmic history, three of them partook in the cosmic expan- sion and became the three dimen- sions we now observe. The other six are now unobservable, either because they have stayed microscop- ic, or because all matter is confined to a three-dimensional surface in the nine-dimensional space. Physicists may soon be able to detect and verify the existence of reality’s extra dimensions. Experiments are already looking for the extra dimensions’ effect on the force of gravity. If the theory is cor- rect, upcoming high-energy particle experiments in Europe (Large Hadron Collider) could see unusual processes involving quantum gravi- ty. The behavior of gravity, particu- larly its strength, is intimately relat- ed to how many dimensions it per- vades. Studies on gravity could thus reveal extra dimensions to us. Curled dimension, — when squeezed tight, as it probably is in our immediate environment, pro- duces quantum effects. But if it blows up, in some far corner of the universe, space-time will gradually acquire a new, unfolding fifth dimension. It is frightening to imag- ine, but images of fundamental objects may change. Physical laws may alter in such an event. Very weird things could possibly happen! — OF (a) (b) (c) time ‘Figure 4. Figure 4. Creation of extra dimension “Hose” that has been twisted around with its ends connected together. This loop represents only one dimension (length of its cir- cumference). “Hose” blows, creating one-dimen- sional line. Second extra dimension is curled and shrunk (radius). Two-dimensional sheet is obtained when radius expands and “hose” unfolds. Note: Figure 4-doesn’t show the thickness of the material. The thick- ness may shrink and expand, repre- senting a separate consecutive dimension not considered in the main description. Transition of the Universe A long-lived “meta-stable” state is ultimately doomed to decay. The “catastrophic” transition to the lower energy state is not only possi- ble, but must occur if enough time is available. If inflation left us lodged on the shallow ledge in the potential landscape above the ground level (Fig. 3), then we might suddenly find ourselves nudged over the brink and on the way down to the lower minimum. That nudge might be supplied by very high- energy events in the universe. It can happen virtually any time: as soon as the next minute, or as late as ten thousand cosmological decades from now. Exact prediction is impossible, since we do not know a complete theory of the vacuum state of the universe, and we have no knowledge as yet of the identity of the scalar field that might be the culprit. For example, collisions between stars or black holes gener- ate cosmic rays of high energy (about 10 eV to the power of 20). We on earth are able to produce high energy density up to 10 eV to the power of 13 in particle accelera- tors that mimic the early universe conditions (Large Hadron Collider is a 27 kilometre tunnel straddling the Franco-Swiss border). Extraterrestrial civilizations (if they exist) may produce even bigger out- bursts of energy (eV). Such events might be able to initiate a quantum mechanical tunneling process in some region of space. And this is roughly analogous to the rapid tran- sition that occurs when super- cooled liquid freezes into solid. We can fall into the new vacuum state in which all particles have zero mass and behave like radiation. “When it begins, microscopic bubbles of the true vacuum state nucleate in the background sea of false vacuum, and begin growing rapidly with the speed of light. They collide and connect with each other completing the phase transition. Inside the bubble, in the region with a new vacuum state, the universe changes its character completely including all known laws of physics. Any observers present during this monumental event would have absolutely no warning of its coming. In time equals ten4(-20) seconds (shorter than our brain requires to register anything) we cease to exist,” writes professor Fred Adams in his book “The Five Ages of the uni- verse.” This picture of collapsing dimen- sions and vacuum landscape transi- tion are very speculative. Nobody has even attempted to calculate and obtain a probability number for such an event. But in a case where this happens, all creatures, in every corner of our planet, solar system, and universe, will get the same fair treatment, quick and decisive. There will be no time to spread panic, no time for speculations. Instantly, we will face a new reality...or maybe we will not face anything at all. Source and inspiration: © Scientific American magazine— cosmology articles from 1994 to 2003 * Books by physicists and cosmolo- gists: ¢ Fred Adams, John Barrow, Robert Kirshner, Hubert Reeves, Martin Rees, Victor Stenger, and David Acheson. NOTICE TO ALL STUDENTS REGARDING ELECTIONS TO THE COLLEGE BOARD AND EDUCATION COUNCIL Elections to the College Board and Education Council will take place in March. This notice is to advise all students regarding the Nomination Process. There are two positions for the College Board and four positions for Education Council. The term of office is ONE year commencing September 1; 2004 and ending August 31, 2005. Nominations for all positions must be RECEIVED by the Registrar at the New Westminster campus no later than 4PM February 20, 2004. Nomination forms are available at the Registrars Office and at the Student Union Office at each campus. Elections are being conducted for the College Board to fill TWO seats. Elections are being conducted for Education Council to fill TWO seats for students attending at the Coquitlam campus, and TWO seats for students attending at the New Westminster campus. For more information please contact the Registrar, ‘Trish Angus, at 604.527.5358. eee Page 20 « http://www.-otherpress.ca What’s In A Name? Four thought that “Print Futures” had something to do with literature, but they didn't know exactly how literature was incorporated into the program. Dayna Mcinnis OP Contributor What is it about a name? We, as a society, are able to give something a meaningful reference with only a few words. According to ITP Nelson Canadian Dictionary of the English Language (1998), the word “name” means: a word or group of words used to describe or evaluate, often disparagingly. Can it be possible for a name to deceive? If someone were to come up and tell you that they are enrolled in a program called “Print Futures,” would you know what exactly the program teaches? So, what's in a name? Some pro- grams are self-explanatory. In a Computer Science Program, for example, one would expect to learn about sciences, chemistry and physics, as well as computer tech- nology and mathematic. What kind of program is Print Futures? Out of the 25 people asked, the top three answers came out to be publication and print, lit- erature, and computers. When one sees the program title Print Futures, the first thought that comes to mind is learning how to print. Now I ask, how much does it take, in a two-year diploma pro- gram, to teach printing something like your name? So with that thought, I move into something more specific, publication and advertising. Out of the 25 people asked, nine said that Print Futures sounds like a program that teaches publication, print, Photoshop, and/or advertising. When all four of these categories are put together, the result is a program that teaches someone business communica- tions. To me, this program would be one that teaches how to effec- tively advertise for different busi- nesses and companies. Another branch-off from print is literature, which was the second choice of the people who were polled. Four thought that Print Futures had something to do with literature, but they didn’t know exactly how literature was incorpo- rated into the program. When the name Print Futures is carefully looked at, the name can speak novels, For those four peo- ple, Print Futures is a program that teaches students about grammar or writing in general. Perhaps you could also expect to learn about the history famous writers, like William Shakespeare and Mark Twain. Not only did the people think that Print Futures teaches print and literature, but they also thought that the words “Print Futures” reminded them of computers. When anything deals with the future, people tend to think of technology and the latest and most high-tech thing there is out there. So I question, what makes the computer so hard to learn that it takes two years to comprehend? And what does it have to do with the mysterious Print Futures pro- gram? So what is in a name, and is the name “Print Futures” deceiving? According to the responses of the 25 people I asked, Print Futures teaches publication, literature, and something to do with computers. So, when you combine these three different categories, you can actual- ly start to figure out what Print Futures is and what is being taught. The Print Futures Program is a of English, Computer Technology and a little bit of Business Management. So were the people right or wrong? Actually they are all right in their own little ways. Next, you might ask, “So if mix the people weren't 100 percent right, then is the name wrong or misleading?” The answer again is no, the name is what you make out of it. Print Futures is a program that prepares one for the world of writing and everything that goes along with it. Because of this, stu- dents combine their own skills and what they learn in the program, and apply the results to their lives. It is this program that allows the average writer, the closet writer, and the undiscovered writer to learn a wide range of lessons that allow not only their writing to grow, but themselves, as well. Those who enter this program will be changed forever, and will never look at the written word in the same way again.