A chance dinner conversation has hijacked my mind, protons and nebulae floating on my mental screensaver. The food was fine, tertiary to the ongoing info-dump of another’s hyper-focus. And for a moment, their hyper-focus became mine, and thus I felt strands of my story come back to me. So I am returning to my story when I can, but not without another kaleidoscopic interest fully renewed.

Falling into my fantasy novel has only spurred my interest in studies into hyper-drive. And apparently it’s time for me to revisit physics. Heavens help me if I ever fall into organic chemistry. That would be a sign to slow down.

So what was it about physics that drew me in twenty years after high school class? The most effective and condensed explanation of the current approach to connect the physics of massive structures of nebulae and space, all the way down to the microscopic level of the parts of an atom – electron, neutron, proton. There is a search for a Grand Unification Theory, or a cohesive understanding of the rules of physics that survives the scalability of these two extremes.

Now full disclosure, I’m using some very rudimentary examples here, thus why I feel the urge to explore and study further into odd corners of the internet. But that’s what the weekend is for, ammiright?

Basically on the grand scale, Einstein is the name most recognize. On the granular scale, which is basically the hydrogen atom’s bits, is Bohr. These are the extremes of physics that these scientists are trying to unite. How do we go from a long band of pure light down to a small dot filled with a spectrum of colors?

My meandering mind was struck mid-rewriting with a thought. What if the connecting fabric for the GUT was not in looking at the extremes, but rather the median or a mid-rocosm? What do they consider to be the center or balance of these scales?

It seems to egotistical to return to the human centered model of scale. But what if that mid-point is centered at the actualization of life? Algae, birds, chanterelle mushrooms, decomposing fruit, energetic talkers… all of these have the ability to interact and react to physics in both forms. Even growing in the shade is an indication that vegetation and mushrooms are interacting with at least one star, as their roots spread out underground pressing dirt around.

Life is a powerful source of energy that somehow grips onto the very edges of physics, while trying to see the structure that surrounds us. I think it will be very difficult to find those structures while we remain stuck in extremes and what humans find most important. Most likely, there is a very pertinent field that could tether quantum physics to things like mushrooms, jellyfish or birds…

Well, in the very least, I can get a few wonderful research afternoons and a boost back into writing. Even if the human element seems a bit too much, it’s nice to know that there is a humbling amount of things we just don’t know. And in that mystery comes awe and inspiration.

Isn’t that what we’re supposed to do anyways?