We Are Empty Spaces

Warning: Science Content

Let me tell you something very beautiful. Yes. Beautiful is the word. What if I told you that... We are all empty spaces? It's not a metaphor, it's not a figurative speech. It is what it is, we are all empty spaces...



Look at your hand. What do you see?

You see your fingers, your skin..

Delve deeper. What do you see?

The creases on your palm, finger prints.

Go on... What do you see?

The epidermis of the skin... Skin tissues?

Cells... Thousands of them. No, millions of them.

There is the phospholipid membrane surrounding the cells, enclosing the inner cytoplasm.

Proteins, hurling everywhere randomly within the fluid cytoplasmic cavity; Enzymes, the intricate machinaries of the cell, working as if they are sentient; DNA, the recipe of life, the blueprint to complex biochemistry, unwinding and duplicating in a blink of an eye.

Billions of atomic bonds were formed, and broken simultaneously. New molecules assembled every fraction of a second.

They are nothing more than just the exchange of electrons in a vast bargaining atomic market. Transactions made in the form of charged currency. Stormy, unpredictable movements of the electrons, orbiting the tranquil nucleus in the center.

But nay, not all nucleus are as still as the eye of the electron hurricane. Some nucleus of massive radioactive atoms gets split into fragments due to unstable fluctuations. 

What lies beyond? Are there nothing but protons and neutrons and electrons that makes us? Or are there a far more fascinating constellation of smaller particles, awaiting for our quantum explorers to discover?

DNA, secret ingredient to life.

Ahem. Forgive me for the failed Carl Sagan imitation. But you get the point. Point is, what is smaller than the (supposedly taught by teacher as the smallest particles of) proton, neutron, and electron. In this post, I shall attempt to explain away some introductory basics of particle physics, and then naturally we will converge to the title of this post of "we are empty spaces", where everything will (sort of) be clear to you.

Let me start by telling you this: your high school chemistry teacher was wrong. It was a conspiracy all this while. They thought you were incapable of understanding something deeper, so they stopped at telling you that protons, neutrons, and electrons are all there is.

Well, not so much of a conspiracy lah. But yes, you/they were wrong. The books were wrong. The examination papers were wrong. Wrong wrong WRONG!

Ok. With that aside. I shall start by telling you the current understanding of particle physics.



What are fundamental particles? Fundamental particles are the smallest observable particles, they are smaller than protons and neutrons, which essentially are made up of these fundamental particles. Currently, physicists think that these fundamental particles are the basic ingredients of the matters in the universe. If you do not know what does matter mean, just cut out that part and read: basic ingredients of the universe. That should serve the purpose for now. Note that I said "smallest observable particles" because these particles can be detected in lab, however it is unknown if they are made up of smaller things.

To keep things simple. There is just three types of fundamental particles you need to know:

Leptons, Quarks, and Bosons

That is it. No sweat right? Now allow me to explain further.


Leptons are... well, leptons... Maybe I should try another way. Electron is part of the family of leptons, which has particles that has either 0 charge, or -1 charge. There is no need to know about other leptons other than the electron.

Quark Family

Quarks are the particles that make up protons and neutrons. There are 6 types of quarks, all with either +2/3 charge or -1/3 charge. So basically a combination of 3 quarks form protons or neutrons depending on the sum of the charges of the quarks.

How quarks form bigger particles.

Bosons are kind of difficult to grasp, they are known as the carrier of the fundamental forces. If I may put it this way, photon is a boson. If you don't know what is a photon, a photon is a light particle; light consists of photon particles. Light as you know it, is a manifestation of the electromagnetic force. Before I fry your brain, let just stop at bosons are the particles that creates electromagnetic force, weak and strong nuclear forces, and gravitational force. Without bosons, we will not have these forces, and quarks and leptons will just exist without doing anything to each other.



Interaction between these particles form the very fabric of our universe. Bosons give rise to nuclear forces that allow quarks to stick together in groups of 3, forming neutrons and protons. The nuclear forces created by bosons also bind neutrons and protons together within a nucleus of an atom. Electrons whirl around the nucleus due to charge attraction.

But even though it seems to you that the proximity of these interactions are very close, it is not. These particles interact at distances so far apart, thinking about it will melt your brain. Okay maybe not so serious, but almost.



Let me give you an idea.

Imagine you have quarks and electrons, almost similar in size (in reality quarks are at least 10 times smaller than electrons, but let us just imagine they are the same size). Let us give them a size in metric measurement of, let's say, 1 millimeter across. How big is 1 millimeter? It is more or less the thickness of 10 pieces of your normal printing paper.

If quarks are 1mm across in size, the protons and neutrons they form will be about 1 meter across! Imagine, 3 quarks of 1mm across occupying a space of 1 cubic meter! What is in between them you ask? Well, nothing! Between them is nothing but empty spaces.

There is more. Putting together the protons and neutrons, you will get a nucleus 10 meters across, all made up of quarks just 1mm long at most.

It does not end here, the next is the most mind-boggling.

Now we have the electrons, orbiting the nucleus. The extent of electrons' orbit around the nucleus is the boundary of the atom. So the further the electron orbits around the nucleus, the bigger atom we have. Typically, at this scale, the entire atom will be 100 kilometers across. Yes, you have not read me wrong, it is one-hundred kilometers! Again, imagine all these are made up of quarks and electrons about 1mm across. What is in between? Empty spaces.

An illustration of the nucleus and atom.

If you want to calculate, the percentage of the volume taken by these quarks and electrons are so close to zero we might as well say that the universe is 100% empty spaces.



We are empty spaces...



But we do not perceive it that way. We can see things! We can touch and feel things! So how can the universe be almost vacuum?

The answer, my friends, lies mainly in one of the fundamental forces of physics - The Electromagnetic Force. But that is for another day.

Electromagnetism - The Beautiful Force

Till next time.



Cheers~



p.s. Extra freebies for nerds, check this out! http://www.pha.jhu.edu/~dfehling/particle.gif

Malaysian Rant

Disclaimer: Malaysian English, read at your own risk (of learning bad English).



Haiyo! One a fine day was today. If you confused about why did I started the sentence with such an exclamation, it is because the fine day was short-lived. There I was, waking up to a good day, sipping my coffee, just to be spoiled by what I saw on the newspaper today.

Walaueh, see already also want to vomit blood ah. But then hor, everyday also I read the newspaper one, why should this one be any different? Aiya, dunno leh. Maybe I had a little bit more of extra time today, so I read the news articles more carefully lor.

One article really got on my nerves la. Want to know what is it or not? Of course you do. Nah, here it is http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/8sitx/Article

Apparently an Indonesian maid working for one of our fellow Malaysian household graduated with a diploma at the Open University of Malaysia wor.

Wahsei, I thought. So geng (powerful) ah? No no, then I think again... Should be - Wah, that family so rich ah can afford to send their maid to university? Hire maid never mind, want to spend money to let her study some more (they said only pay half of the fee lah, but still a lot wei).

Ok lah. People want to do the maid a favor, I cannot say anything lor. Do good is do good mah, I'm feeling happy for the maid too. As for the family, thank you lor. But hor, I think the money can be better spent on something else lah. What is it? I don't know. Sendiri pikir lah (think yourself).

That is not the point lah. The point is, the news article hor - of all the lines they can start with - must start with "The Tan family of Damansara Utama is proof that the average Malaysian family cares for its domestic maids."

Immediately I thought, Walaoeh. One family can afford to send their maid to college, then it is a proof that everyone in Malaysia cares about their Indonesian maid is it? Like that if one politician is corrupt, then it is a proof that all politicians are corrupt too lor? Isn't it? Nah.

Remember last year we got into a row with Indonesia again about maid abuse? Then the fellers in Indonesia said they want to invade our country some more, for revenge wor they said. What does that proof? That all Malaysians torture their maid ah? Or that all Indonesians are crazy buggers that want to drench in our blood?

No ah? Then how the f**k can this one proof that all average Malaysian families care for their maid ah?

I really don't know lah. Sometimes I think these people write without using their brain one. But never mind lah, it's newspaper. Nobody believes what is on the newspapers anymore lah in Malaysia. Except for some people that still believe that Utusan Malaysia is holier than Al Qur'an lah.




Anyway, let's talk about something else. Last week, the hacker group Anonymous hacked into our government websites. About 100+ websites got attacked and was brought down.

Aiyo. Really fail lah. These people already declared that they will attack a few weeks earlier. Announced the date and time some more. And then this Minister of Ancient Information Technology berlagak (boast) want to say," We are ready".

Then what happened? We got hacked lah, that's what. Got pwned like Mike Tyson giving a little kid a left hook for a knockout punch.

Walaoeh. How can? Government websites wor, not got a lot of people like those in Pentagon one working for government one meh? How come can get hacked by these people? Cannot lah like that. If government also can get hacked, then we normal rakyat (people) how? Aiya. Really ah, depend on this ancient dinosaur as a minister, might as well ask your dog to fend off these hackers lah.

Then ah. All these for what? All because our government blocked some downloading websites lor. Say want to protect local entertainment industry wor. Walaoeh. What local entertainment industry? Some people want to download porn cannot is it? Malaysia got make one is it? (Got lah, if you find hard enough)

Say want to protect local entertainment industry. Wah, what do you think har? Now must force us to buy these lousy music is it? Nah, give us download also donwan lah. You musicians in Malaysia, think what har? Haven't start to make good music you want us to buy and listen ah? Mimpi lah (dream on). What if I bought your album and it sucks har? Maybe if you all start to make some good music, we might consider spending our hard-earned money on your decent songs lah. Our money not easy come one you know, want us to simply invest on you ah?

What? No money, can't produce good music? Walao. What you think, the whole world charity ah? You want us to give you money first, then only you make good music ah? If like that, everyone also become a millionaire already lor. This business plan, is brilliant lah, only we everyone is gullible enough to part with their money lah. I also can say, if everyone give me some money, then I can start a business and become a billionaire, then repay everyone who lent money to me lor. How is that? You want to invest in me or not?

Walaoeh. Really beh tahan (cannot stand) lah Malaysia. But then hor, it's the only country I know. Must sabar... sabar... Haiyo. Ok lah my rant ends here. Soli ah if my English polluted your brain. Promise next post I will revert to my own writing style (if it's not another Malaysian rant).



Till next time, cheers~

Why Angry Bird U So Angry?

"You seen any eggs around?"

With millions of copies sold, Angry Birds is undoubtedly one of the most successful casual games to be created so far. (Still remember Plants vs Zombies? Oh well)

I am yet to play Angry Birds, but from the testimonials of my friends I think I should refrain from touching this game lest I will be addicted to it.

Addiction to this? I can't fathom doing something this repetitive, but better to be safe.

Anyway, I did some readings on the Internet about Angry Birds, and I found out that Angry Birds has a historical reference behind the whole idea!

Why, of course you would have never thought of that. You think this is just another mindless casual game, uh, well maybe the developers intended it to be, but I doubted it with the uncanny resemblance to one of the historical events in human (or animal) history. Do you know what it is? One word - Dodo.

What dodo?

This dodo.

Let me tell you a story, if you haven't heard it already. Come, darken your lights, cuddle around, light a candle. Ready? Just kidding lah, not a ghost story also. Anyway...


Long time ago, there was a species of birds living in an island isolated from the whole world, living in bliss, ignorant of what is happening (guess this is why they said ignorance is a bliss). They never had to face any predators, so they never had the need to run very fast or fly. Evolution took their flight away, and directed their energy elsewhere (such as doing you-know-what all day, in numbers).

So they lived happily for thousands of years. They eat, they make love, they lay eggs. Such is the simple life of the dodo birds. Until one day in the 16th century (1500s ah, don't misread it), the Dutch came. Then you heard the rest of the story.

The island was named Mauritius, an island off the island of Madagascar. Over the next century, many sailors came. The dodo, living in peace for years, lost their natural instinct to escape from predators. They were fearless of the humans, so naturally, easy capture means easy food. Humans fed on these dodos by tons whenever they made a stop at this island. That is probably one of the reasons dodo became extinct within about a hundred years from the first encounter.

Then came one of the key factors that has a direct link to Angry Birds - pigs!

Allow me to explain. Dodos as you know, had no natural predators. They lay their eggs on the ground. But when the human came, they brought in other animals into the island ecosystem. One of them is - you guessed it - pig.

The pigs contributed as much if not more to the extinction of dodo, by eating their eggs. Lots of them.

This took the dodo too fast for them to have any evolutionary adaptations, and in the end, the last dodo was sighted in 1688 (date is being disputed, but its around that lah.).


That's it? You ask. That's all it took for me to link them together? Well, there are more to it. I think I should lay it out for you to see. I'm sure you will be convinced.



First: Angry Birds and Dodos can't fly

Slingshot is there for obvious reasons.

Why of course. Why else? WHY ELSE? Slingshot?!



Second: Both lay their eggs on the ground.

Dodo with eggs.

Happy Angry Birds with eggs.

Third: Pigs stole their eggs.

Like I mentioned for the dodo above, in the game the pigs stole and wanted to to eat the eggs too.

Pigs did it.

It is no wonder the Angry Birds are real angry. It's extinction we were talking about for F's sake. So the next time you wonder "Angry Birds, Y U so angry lah?" You can think about this piece of event in history.

Oh yes. Don't mess with them. They'd rather explode and die than to let you steal their eggs, though I still don't know what is the historical significance in that.

I think I should end here. Till next time, happy Angry Bird-ing



Cheers~

People: Bath Boys Comedy

Comedy is an essential part of Internet culture (well, besides porn). On YouTube, comedy channel rakes in the most subscribers on YouTube (didn't do fact check, but I presume that is the case when most top subscribed channels are listed under 'humor').

Today, let's talk about one of the most underrated channels on YouTube - Bath Boys Comedy.

With only about 3,600 subscribers, they are really under appreciated for the quality videos they produce. If I were to name the funniest channel on YouTube, I would give it to Bath Boys.

Although relatively unknown, they got their little shot at fame when they made a parody trailer to the then-new movie Inception.



Oh well. Nothing else I can tell you about them. You would have to watch all their videos to judge whether they are really underrated. Find them below!


YouTube Channel
Facebook Page
Twitter Account


Till next time (I am entering a very busy two-week period, forgive me for not posting and writing as much as I want to), cheers~