3 ms·

I don't get the "running out of fuel" argument... If the universe (as assumed in the text) is infinitely old and infinitely large, why should there be any scarc

I don't get the "running out of fuel" argument... If the universe (as assumed in the text) is infinitely old and infinitely large, why should there be any scarcity of nuclear fuel?

randlet 11y ago
Stars fuse light elements it into heavier elements. Eventually all the lighter elements will be used up.
- TranquilMarmot 11y ago
  One of my favorite short stories about this is The Last Question by Isaac Asimov http://multivax.com/last_question.html http://multivax.com/last_question.html
- pc86 11y ago
  I think they were saying if we're conceding infinite size and an infinite number of stars, why not an infinite amount of those lighter elements as well?
  - kyberias 11y ago
    Imagine an infinite space divided in infinite number of finite volumes each containing a finite number of "lighter elements". All the light elements form a star in their local volume and burn up all the light elements locally. The result: all the infinite number of finite volumes are void of the light elements. The infinite space is dark.
mjevans 11y ago
Most stars we see are burning Hydrogen, possibly helium, in a process of gravity well driven nuclear fusion. This fusion results in heavier atomic particles and some waste that we see as radiation (light, heat, various forms of EM energy). I am not an astrophysicist, nor am I an expert in the early universe, but I recall that the prevailing theories of our time are that somehow the universe came in to being with predominantly hydrogen atoms. These combine through fusion in what we call stars to form denser matter. This process continues until the result of combining the elements reaches a limit. I believe that iron happens to be that limit if I recall correctly. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_peak https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_peak Describes what I recall reading/hearing many years ago.

I don't get the "running out of fuel" argument... If the universe (as assumed in the text) is infinitely old and infinitely large, why should there be any scarcity of nuclear fuel?

randlet 11y ago

Stars fuse light elements it into heavier elements. Eventually all the lighter elements will be used up.

TranquilMarmot 11y ago
One of my favorite short stories about this is The Last Question by Isaac Asimov http://multivax.com/last_question.html http://multivax.com/last_question.html
pc86 11y ago
I think they were saying if we're conceding infinite size and an infinite number of stars, why not an infinite amount of those lighter elements as well?
- kyberias 11y ago
  Imagine an infinite space divided in infinite number of finite volumes each containing a finite number of "lighter elements". All the light elements form a star in their local volume and burn up all the light elements locally. The result: all the infinite number of finite volumes are void of the light elements. The infinite space is dark.

mjevans 11y ago

Most stars we see are burning Hydrogen, possibly helium, in a process of gravity well driven nuclear fusion. This fusion results in heavier atomic particles and some waste that we see as radiation (light, heat, various forms of EM energy). I am not an astrophysicist, nor am I an expert in the early universe, but I recall that the prevailing theories of our time are that somehow the universe came in to being with predominantly hydrogen atoms. These combine through fusion in what we call stars to form denser matter. This process continues until the result of combining the elements reaches a limit. I believe that iron happens to be that limit if I recall correctly. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_peak https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_peak Describes what I recall reading/hearing many years ago.