TED Conversations

Casey Christofaris

Owner, CS3 Inc


This conversation is closed. Start a new conversation
or join one »






Showing single comment thread. View the full conversation.

  • Sep 23 2012: This is pretty fascinating, I read most of the replies. I know little of math, the most advanced math I ever used was bulk specific gravity calculations on construction materials. But let me see if I can stimulate some of your physics brains.
    Can it be that there is zero matter of one particular matter? Two people in a room, one holding an apple, one holding nothing. The particular matter that makes an apple, is zero, no? Zero of that matter, as opposed to oxygen in the room.
    I don't know, it's mind boggling. It reminds of of the novel The Island of the Day Before by Umberto Eco. Nothing from nothing leaves nothing - Billy Preston
    • thumb
      Sep 23 2012: Good day Chris,

      I will have to look into that book. But If one person is holding an apple and the other person has zero apples. That does not make the apple in the other persons hand not exist. So if you zoom out you could still say that there is one apple in the room.
      • Sep 23 2012: Good Day Casey. I meant that the one person has zero apples, so zero matter.
        If he leaves the room to the next, there are zero apples in the next room.
        A person can have zero of any specific matter.
        • thumb
          Sep 23 2012: Yes that is true a person can have zero of any matter. How ever that does not make that matter zero. There are still apples in existence. And say they did go out of existence if would just be a transfer of energy. Not a zero "point" of existence.

Showing single comment thread. View the full conversation.