Are Aliens Changing the Laws of Physics?
This note is a preliminary speculation on the possible consequences of changing the “Laws of Physics”. While it is certain that the cannot change them at this time an advanced civilisation may be able to do so. And speculation is fun.
Even if it is impossible to change the laws of physics discussing the consequences of changing them may give some insight into the laws and the workings of the physical universe.
The “laws” of physics are regular patterns of behaviour of the physical world that are believed to be the result of some underlying order in the world and derivable from some simple assumptions. For example for some very general Systems Noether’s Theorem derives conservation laws in physics from symmetries in space or time. While there are some technicalities involved in the application of Noether’s theorems they show that changing some laws of physics could change symmetries of space-time, probably in a way detrimental life itself. There is also the possibility of a runaway effect resulting in universal catastrophe.
What are the laws of Physics?
The laws of physics are observed constraints and patterns in the way parts of the world behave. They include Newton’s three laws, the inverse square law of universal gravitation, Maxwell’s equations, Conservation laws and Einstein’s special and general theories of relativity.
The Laws of Physics, and the associated physical constants, are the current bedrock of our understanding of how the world works. It is possible they derive from more fundamental laws which will turn out to be fundamental but for now they are the keys to a beautiful but incomplete understanding of the world.
In what ways can the laws of physics be changed.
Most physical laws are assumed to apply through out the observable universe (technically in the lightcone in which we exist) and at all scales of time and space. Some are conservation laws associated with symmetries of space and time.
A particular law can be changed (violated if you prefer) globally, or locally in a restricted area. For example the law of gravitation. This can be altered in two ways: Either changing the inverse power law for the attraction between two bodies, or changing the gravitational constant. Changing from an inverse square law to say an inverse cube law would make gravity weaker at shert distances and stronger at long distances. It could result in collapse of the universe. Similarly changing to a 1/r law could result in the universe breaking apart. At short distances our bodies would probably not be affected, but the orbits of planets could change, perhaps causing our extinction. An alternative would be to change the gravitational constant G. If this were done in a limited area we would have antigravity as described in much science fiction. Conversely it could be used to create an artificial gravitational field in a space ship. It could also be used as a formidable weapon.
Alternatively consider the speed of light, a kind of universal speed limit. By increasing it several orders of magnitude intergalactic travel in a human lifetime could be possible. Changing it to be near infinity along a (geodesic) line between two points could allow intergalactic travel without disturbing the rest of the universe.
What could go wrong
The universe, it has been noted is peculiarly suited to life. This is known as the anthropic principle and encapsulates the fact that if the values of the fundamental constants of physics had been slightly different then life ( or at least life as we know it) could not have arisen. The same conclusion will almost certainly hold if the laws of physics, not just the universal constants, were to be changed: unless the changes cancel each other out.
Are we an alien experiment with the laws of Physics
Caleb Schwartz speculated on the possibility that the laws of physics are determined by an advanced race in an article called Is Physical Law an Alien Intelligence?. He suggested an advanced race might have translated themselves into Dark Matter, the unobserved and perhaps unobservable substance that has the “Missing Mass” that must exist if the Theory of General Relativity is correct. Dark matter only interacts with our universe through gravity, not through any form of electromagnetic radiation.
Schwarz postulates that an advanced species, if that exists, may have become indistinguishable from Physics. As it stands this notion is conceptually unclear, though it does bolster the idea that the universe is conscious and may even be sentient.
But there is another possibility. An advanced race may be able to alter the laws of physics but afraid they may wipe themselves out if they do so carelessly. Presumably all their members who, if they see a big red button marked “do not press this button” instantly press it have been forcibly reminded NOT to interfere with nature and if necessary restrained.
One way round this is simulation. The universe is simulated in order to run tests on it, just as software developers run unit and integration tests on a program. The advanced race may have created our universe as a testbed for (hopefully cautious) experimentation with the laws of physics. This would be in line with the legends in various cultures that our universe was not the first created and previous universes were destroyed because they were imperfect. It is also in line with recent speculation that the laws of the universe might be changing slowly, or even evolving.
In conclusion
If an advanced species exists (and it may be so advanced as to be unrecognizable, just as bacteria probably cannot recognise us) and can change the laws of nature it would be cautious about doing so and elect, like the mice in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, to create a super computer to test proposed changes. One computer would be our universe and they could be monitoring results through the dark matter that makes up 95% of the universe (if dark matter exists).
