by Christyl Rivers

Created on: July 12, 2010

The Real Meaning of E=MC2 is Oneness, Relativity, Connection, and Hope

Oneness:

That Energy can be equal to mass, times the speed of light, squared, is an amazing leap of science.  Einstein, even by 1905, showed clear signs of genius.  He is now a cultural Icon. This is also demonstrated by Time Magazine’s honoring Einstein with the distinction of (Hu) Man of the Year(s) -specifically one hundred years.  He was named Man of the 20th century.  Many argue he could easily be designated man of the millennium, easily beating out Newton by several thousand votes.  Of course without Newton’s work, Einstein would be completely unknown.  There is a continuum of genius, just as there is a continuum of energy, time, light, and biology.  All are one.

Energy and mass trade places all the time, as when the burning sun converts hydrogen into helium.  Also bits of energy, and transformed mass, are created when you convert food into burned calories.  Think of that when you next devour a candy bar:  you are not a guilty glutton, but a living experiment.  But what does this historic equation mean to humanity, outside the confines of the realm of the super gifted, super nerds, who bandy about the equation as part of their 9-5 routine of scribbled boards?  This is not to disparage those nerds.  They are busy making history while most of the world is off squabbling over political power, resources, dancing stars, and the debate of werewolves versus vampires.

Energy is electromagnetic radiation moving at the speed of light.  Light is determined to be made up of both particles and waves.  Mass can therefore be converted into energy and vice versa.  Poof, there is creation.  Creation of us and creation of a lot of mysteries as well, suddenly came to be.  The scientists are left to debate the creation.  For the purposes of this article we, we will debate the mysteries.

Einstein was passionate about mystery.  He said that the mysterious is the source of all true art and all science.  What did he mean by that?  He meant that humanity has become aware of itself, and is at the shore of what Newton called an  “…ocean of truth which lies undiscovered…”   Both Newton and Einstein knew that we are as tiny children on the shore of a great and mysterious cosmos.  We can and do learn by examining a shell, or contemplating a wave,

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