Barry Redhead – Physics as a passion and source of inspiration
My fascination with physics – or: Why I like science fiction!
A passion for physics often begins with a spark – for me, it was 21 July 1969. On a clear night, surrounded by the mysterious aura of a black-and-white CRT television, I watched the moon landing of Neil Armstrong, Edwin Aldrin and Michael Collins. That moment, when humankind first set foot on another celestial body, sparked in me not only an insatiable curiosity about space travel, but also a deep enthusiasm for physics.
Since that event, my fascination with the universe and its laws has never left me. Physics, this fundamental science that shapes our understanding of the universe, became my faithful companion. In doing so, I combined my passion for science fiction with the sober reality of physics. I didn’t just want to create fantastical worlds, but also to make them as realistic as possible. This drove me to read countless books on physics – both popular science and specialist works. Texts on particle physics, which marked the beginning of my journey, were particularly challenging but also extremely rewarding. Over the years, my interest expanded to other areas of physics. Astrophysics, quantum mechanics and even the controversial string theory became an integral part of my knowledge. String theory in particular, which attempts to unify the various models of physics into a coherent whole, fascinated me. Yet, as with many physical theories, a lingering scepticism remained. However, I found theories such as the multiverse hypothesis, which posits many parallel worlds, to be too speculative, even downright ‘spooky’.
In my opinion, it lacks a realistic basis. Physics is not only a science of possibilities, but also of limits. And it is precisely these limits that often remind us just how unique and improbable our own existence is. The idea that intelligent life exists on other planets may sound fascinating, but I consider the probability of this to be vanishingly small. The evolution of life, from single-celled organisms to thinking beings, is dependent on so many coincidences and conditions that the idea that we could make contact with extraterrestrial civilisations belongs in the realm of science fiction. Therefore, I regard UFOs as nonsense, and engaging with them as a complete waste of time. Any sighting of UFOs in which little green men are suspected belongs in the ‘conspiracy theory’ category, also known as ‘spökenkiekeree’. Even if intelligent life exists beyond Earth, the fact remains that we will never be able to travel faster than the speed of light.
The laws of physics set clear limits on this vision. The energy required to make such journeys possible far exceeds our technical capabilities. The idea of interstellar communication or even travel to other stars therefore remains, at least according to current scientific knowledge, an unfulfillable dream. And whilst humanity reaches for the stars, a bitter realisation sets in: our own planet, our only home, is in danger. Intelligence, as we attribute it to ourselves, seems more like an illusion. For despite all our progress, we are in the process of destroying the very foundations of our own existence. The predictions that humanity may no longer exist within the next 200 to 300 years are frighteningly real.
Isaac Asimov once put it aptly: the beings who will succeed us on this planet will not be humans, but AI-controlled robots. Our fascination with physics and the pursuit of knowledge remain undiminished. Yet the question remains whether we, as a species, will be able to use our knowledge to secure our future – or whether the laws of physics and our own lack of foresight will ultimately lead us into the abyss. Yours, Barry Redhead
