It is possible that our present universe is itself in a state of false vacuum, with dark energy representing the nonzero vacuum energy density. This is part of the chaotic inflation theory. If this is correct, then parts of our universe might be expected to decay to a true vacuum state at some point in the distant future. It is important to note that if this did in fact take place (formation of a true vacuum) our universe would cease to exist behind a wall of ever expanding "un-reality". The result is a universe that would exist within a new set of physics different from our own, a universe where we (earth) couldn't possibly exist. If true, the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics may prevent this calamity.
Approach without warning
The scary thing is that this can occur naturally and there is little possibility of escaping the event, as it would travel at the speed of light. This would give no warning of its approach, since you would not be able to see it due to its speed and direction three dimensional spherical form.
This has not happened during the 13 billion years or more that the universe has existed. This probably means the universe is sufficiently stable to support our continued existence. Since the universe has lasted so very long it is very unlikely to disintegrate within the next thousand years or even within the next million years.
Despite this we may have been lucky. The anthropic principle shows that observers can only exist in a universe or in part of a universe which lasts sufficiently long for stars like the Sun and planets like Earth to develop. We may be in a false vacuum, which has lasted unusually long. In more typical regions there may be no observers. It may also be quite usual for a universe to last as long as ours has. Cosmologists do not know enough to say which is true.
End of our existence
Below is a New Scientist article which is not available on the Internet without subscription quoted by another author.
There is speculation about the Quantum Zeno effect.
Pocket universe
One might assume we can escape our reality by producing a type of "pocket universe" making it possible to step outside our reality but you would eventually run out of the limited resources you brought with you and there is no guarantee that the "New universe" would be stable enough to allow your structure to exist in its state.
Many worlds quantum mechanics
The many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics predicts that the universe will not end this way -provided many worlds is true-.
Each time a quantum event happens which causes the universe to decay from false vacuum to true vacuum the universe splits. In one or more new world the universe decays. In the other new world or worlds the universe continues as before. Quantum events can increase the number of worlds where the universe has decayed. The number of worlds where the universe has not decayed will never decrease. There is a parallel with the proposed quantum suicide experiment where the experimenter will not die in all worlds provided the Many-worlds interpretation is true.
The above does not prove the Many-worlds interpretation correct for 2 reasons.
1. Scientists do not universally accept that the universe is a false vacuum or that it should have decayed to a true vacuum by now.
2. There are other reasons why the universe may have survived. Consciousness causes collapse or The strong anthropic principle could also explain it.
The above may increase the probability that Many-worlds is true.
Approach without warning
The scary thing is that this can occur naturally and there is little possibility of escaping the event, as it would travel at the speed of light. This would give no warning of its approach, since you would not be able to see it due to its speed and direction three dimensional spherical form.
This has not happened during the 13 billion years or more that the universe has existed. This probably means the universe is sufficiently stable to support our continued existence. Since the universe has lasted so very long it is very unlikely to disintegrate within the next thousand years or even within the next million years.
Despite this we may have been lucky. The anthropic principle shows that observers can only exist in a universe or in part of a universe which lasts sufficiently long for stars like the Sun and planets like Earth to develop. We may be in a false vacuum, which has lasted unusually long. In more typical regions there may be no observers. It may also be quite usual for a universe to last as long as ours has. Cosmologists do not know enough to say which is true.
End of our existence
Below is a New Scientist article which is not available on the Internet without subscription quoted by another author.
There is speculation about the Quantum Zeno effect.
Pocket universe
One might assume we can escape our reality by producing a type of "pocket universe" making it possible to step outside our reality but you would eventually run out of the limited resources you brought with you and there is no guarantee that the "New universe" would be stable enough to allow your structure to exist in its state.
Many worlds quantum mechanics
The many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics predicts that the universe will not end this way -provided many worlds is true-.
Each time a quantum event happens which causes the universe to decay from false vacuum to true vacuum the universe splits. In one or more new world the universe decays. In the other new world or worlds the universe continues as before. Quantum events can increase the number of worlds where the universe has decayed. The number of worlds where the universe has not decayed will never decrease. There is a parallel with the proposed quantum suicide experiment where the experimenter will not die in all worlds provided the Many-worlds interpretation is true.
The above does not prove the Many-worlds interpretation correct for 2 reasons.
1. Scientists do not universally accept that the universe is a false vacuum or that it should have decayed to a true vacuum by now.
2. There are other reasons why the universe may have survived. Consciousness causes collapse or The strong anthropic principle could also explain it.
The above may increase the probability that Many-worlds is true.
Mountebank is a person, or a company who tries to profit on marketing medicine to the people, normally understood in regard of dubious medicine. It can also be used to coin the practitioners of marketing of pharmaceutical products. The expression comes from the Italian montambanco or montimbanco based on the phrase monta in banco - literally referring to the action of a seller of dubious medicines getting up on a bench to address his audience of potential customers.It is synonymous with a charlatan. --Xact (talk) 22:40, 29 January 2008 (UTC)
List of people who have died because of ragging.
List of homicides .
* Y. Manohar ,a student of Sarada college,Vijaywada,India was convicted on 4th August 2005 of having killed his classmate R. Srilakshmi in the college classroom in broad daylight on June 21, 2004.:.
List of suicides .
* Amit Sahai was a student of NIT Jalandhar, Punjab and he committed suicide on October 11, 2005 by jumping in front of a speeding train. He blamed nine senior students of NIT Jalandhar in his suicide note for having had mercilessly ragged him:.
* Durgesh Shukla hanged himself from a ceiling fan on September 18, 2007. He blamed seniors in his suicide note .
* Manjot Singh, an MBBS student, committed suicide by consuming a poisonous substance on August 8, 2007 .
* 18 year-old Chetan Raj committed suicide on September 20, 2007. His body was found hanging from the roof of his lodge room. He had already complained to his parents that he was being ragged in his college .
* A first year engineering student, C Abraham, hanged himself to death on December 14, 2005 at his residence in Hyderabad. In his suicide note, he mentioned that he was not interested in studies. His parents suspect that his suicide to be a result of ragging .
* A 19-year-old first year engineering student, Anup Kapoor, committed suicide on September 19, 2002 by hanging himself from a ceiling fan at his residence in Kanpur. In his suicide note, Anup said that he was going through mental agony due to the sexual harassment by second-year students of the institute (Institute of Engineering and Technology, Lucknow) in the name of ragging .
* Azad Nair was a 22 year old cadet at the Officer's Training Academy(OTA) in Chennai.He had hanged himself from the fan of his room on 5th November, 2006. Prior to his suicide he had told his brother Soumendu over telephone that he was being ragged and humiliated at the OTA and he had pleaded to his father Padmanabhan Nair to rescue him from the OTA.
List of homicides .
* Y. Manohar ,a student of Sarada college,Vijaywada,India was convicted on 4th August 2005 of having killed his classmate R. Srilakshmi in the college classroom in broad daylight on June 21, 2004.:.
List of suicides .
* Amit Sahai was a student of NIT Jalandhar, Punjab and he committed suicide on October 11, 2005 by jumping in front of a speeding train. He blamed nine senior students of NIT Jalandhar in his suicide note for having had mercilessly ragged him:.
* Durgesh Shukla hanged himself from a ceiling fan on September 18, 2007. He blamed seniors in his suicide note .
* Manjot Singh, an MBBS student, committed suicide by consuming a poisonous substance on August 8, 2007 .
* 18 year-old Chetan Raj committed suicide on September 20, 2007. His body was found hanging from the roof of his lodge room. He had already complained to his parents that he was being ragged in his college .
* A first year engineering student, C Abraham, hanged himself to death on December 14, 2005 at his residence in Hyderabad. In his suicide note, he mentioned that he was not interested in studies. His parents suspect that his suicide to be a result of ragging .
* A 19-year-old first year engineering student, Anup Kapoor, committed suicide on September 19, 2002 by hanging himself from a ceiling fan at his residence in Kanpur. In his suicide note, Anup said that he was going through mental agony due to the sexual harassment by second-year students of the institute (Institute of Engineering and Technology, Lucknow) in the name of ragging .
* Azad Nair was a 22 year old cadet at the Officer's Training Academy(OTA) in Chennai.He had hanged himself from the fan of his room on 5th November, 2006. Prior to his suicide he had told his brother Soumendu over telephone that he was being ragged and humiliated at the OTA and he had pleaded to his father Padmanabhan Nair to rescue him from the OTA.
In lieu of flowers is a phrase commonly inserted into obituaries and death notices. Literally meaning “instead of flowers,” the presence of this within the body of an obituary is often confusing for the friends and relatives of the deceased.
The wide diversity of cultural funeral traditions requires that we mention the fact that not all cultures incorporate flowers in the rituals surrounding death. But, for most North Americans, flowers play a major part in at least two of life’s rites of passage: weddings and funerals. It is hard to imagine either ritual without flowers.
Whether or not the obituary of a relative or friend states 'in lieu of flowers,' it is important to follow your heart in these matters. Your choice should be aligned with your personal beliefs and preferences - while also respecting the elements of the ritual supported by the presence of flowers: they are beautiful examples of the vibrancy of life, provide those in attendance with points of conversation, and illustrate the deceased was loved in an highly-visible way.
The wide diversity of cultural funeral traditions requires that we mention the fact that not all cultures incorporate flowers in the rituals surrounding death. But, for most North Americans, flowers play a major part in at least two of life’s rites of passage: weddings and funerals. It is hard to imagine either ritual without flowers.
Whether or not the obituary of a relative or friend states 'in lieu of flowers,' it is important to follow your heart in these matters. Your choice should be aligned with your personal beliefs and preferences - while also respecting the elements of the ritual supported by the presence of flowers: they are beautiful examples of the vibrancy of life, provide those in attendance with points of conversation, and illustrate the deceased was loved in an highly-visible way.