EGMT 1520: Is the vacuum really empty?

Discoveries in the past 100 years on the frontiers of the smallest and largest length scales have altered the human perception of our immediate world, and of the larger universe. Available evidence points to a single event in space and time that led to the emergence of our universe – a singularity event in the vacuum. What other secrets might the vacuum hold? Are the fundamental laws of nature imprinted indelibly on the fabric of the vacuum, along with the power to transform energy, and create/annihilate matter? Our journey toward understanding the scientific frontier begins with exploring the evolution of science, emergence and meaning of the scientific method, and qualitative highlights of modern relativity and quantum physics. Students will choose to explore a subset of related topics, such as manifestations of the quantum world in modern life, the quantum brain, symmetry and its breaking in quantum physics, neural assemblies and the path to intelligence (including artificial), viability of space and time travel, sustained life away from the Earth. The course will focus on humans as the natural bridge between the everyday and the quantum.