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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jdvn1" data-source="post: 2381224" data-attributes="member: 26424">Um.  We might know more about the structure of a distant nebulae better than our own, but we have a lot more details on our own.  We can list millions of facts about a few planets.  That's more than we can say for the rest of the universe.I suppose that may be true but we haven't been able to delve very much into the question, "Can stars function in a different way that we haven't observed?"  We only know what we've seen, which is the point of science--to explain what we observe.The interactions that go on in a star aren't perfect.  We can't predict exactly what will happen to a specific star or galaxy.  Is it possible that they've all exploded by now?  Yes.  It's unlikely, but possible.... Maybe you're getting off track, but remember the assumption.  An infinite universe.  Assuming there is an infinite universe, there is also an infinite number of things in it.  Proportionally, the amount we know is (number)/infinity, which goes to zero.  I don't need to be in contact with any entity to tell me that basic math functions.Or maybe I need to explain this in another way.  We can only perceive things a certain distance away.  Also, our perception is hindered by a number of other things, including galaxies and gravity.  Let's say we can see things 100 trillion light years out.  If the universe is infinite, how do we know what's at the 101 trillionth light year?  Sure, it might be empty, but that's a 'fact' that we can't know.  Then, what's at the 200 trillianth light year?  We can't know, again.  Already, our knowledge of the universe is cut down to a fraction of what it used to be.  Then, the 400 trillianth light year?  Then, the zillionth light year?  Eventually, the amount we know, proportionally, is an amazingly small amount.No, just on the scale of infinity.  That's not an unfounded generalization at all.  That's our assumption.  If there's a 10^10 000 000 000 to 1 chance, against, of a flying pig being formed, and you have an infinite number of tries to do it, it will eventually happen.  Eventually you'll try it more than 10^10 000 000 000 times.You're right.  It's very unlikely to happen to you since we're not in an infinite universe.  The probability is probably to the order of 10^10000000000 to 1 against, by which I mean to say that in 1000 lifespans of the universe, it probably wouldn't happen once.That's normally true, but not with our assumption.  Improbable becomes certain in an infinite universe.Oh, yes, Newton's laws.  Right.  The ones with fail at the subatomic level?  We amended that when we figured out what subatomic particles were and that they interacted differently than other objects.  Convenient to be able to change laws.  Relativity and Quantum Mechanics only serve to prove my point.  To a professional scientist, laws serve as a benchmark, but are also subject to change.  Then again, some scientists got killed for that, but that's a different issue.  Currently, scientists are comfortable with the idea that most of the theories work most of the time, but they may never understand exactly how water currents work even on the earth's surface.  Meteorology may always be a source of frustration for scientists.  Physicists have been working on currents for a long time and haven't gotten much farther than recognizing patterns, much less coming up with laws to determine what happens when.Well, black holes are visible, but the math that goes behind them is considered flawed by many.  Hawkings did do a good job, though, with spotting them and coming up with some strong theories.  They're not laws by any means, though.  Normal physics doesn't work with them, though.  And, besides, who cares about visible universe if we're assuming an infinite universe?  There might be a few galaxies we can't see that are Nitrogen-based.  There might be another that's Silicon-based.  Maybe there's one out there that's Mercury-based or Antimony-based.  Maybe we just can't see it.  You may be content in your room, but the universe goes out a bit farther than that.</blockquote>

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