I am going to tell you something unbelievable. It will sound like hyperbole or a parable contrived to make a point. It isn’t—it is true. You have heard of the many crazy things people believe but, believe it or not, there is a group that is certain that there is a way for the four fundamental forces of nature (gravity, electromagnetism, the weak nuclear force and the strong nuclear force) to rearrange fundamental particles to form spaceships, nuclear power plants and computers. I am indebted to Granville Sewell for this information, and why it is important.
This group does not merely assert that the four fundamental forces can rearrange fundamental particles to have the form of spaceships, nuclear power plants and computers, they actually believe that the four fundamental forces can rearrange matter to have the function of spaceships, nuclear power plants and computers. That is, the four fundamental forces create actual spaceships, nuclear power plants and computers.
Sometimes the more extreme and absurd a belief, the more firmly it is held. This seems to hold true in this case as Sewell was unsuccessful in trying to talk some sense into these people. He explained to them that their belief is highly unlikely given the second law of thermodynamics which states that things tend toward disorder, not order.
It may seem silly to use a scientific argument for such an obviously surreal belief. But the group tends to be scientifically oriented, so Sewell thought the second law would help them to see their colossal blunder.
No such luck. Their response, amazingly, was that sunlight makes all the difference. That’s right, they believe that the four fundamental forces, with the addition of solar radiation, can create spaceships, nuclear power plants and computers.
If you are interested in learning more about this group go here to see the writings of one its leaders.
