Notes on Seven Brief Lessons on Physics - Carlo Rovelli

Physics used to be the most scary subject for me, as I couldn't bring myself to decipher its logics despite my relentless efforts during high school. 

At university, I rekindled back with physics as my professor taught it from the philosophical point of view, rather than just shoving theorems and calculations straight away. Thus, I started to read more physics book- and this one was my first try! I stumbled upon this copy at a local library in Bucharest, and I had to borrow it after reading the reviews.

This is not meant to be a review, but rather a compilations of key points and excerpts I extracted from reading this book back in summer '2022 (:

Seven Brief Lessons on Physics - Carlo Rovelli

• the fabric of space, origins of the cosmos, nature of time, phenomenon of black holes, working of our own thought processes

Lesson 1 - The most beautiful theory

🪐 Riemann’s mathematic

• space and gravitational field are the same thing
• Space keeps expanding
• Remnants of universe explosion 💥  (Einteon’s theory)

🪐 General Relativity

“Spacetime tells matter how to move and matter tells spacetime how to curve”

• John Wheeler (American Physicist)

Lesson 2 - Quanta

🪐 Quantum Mechanics

• Max Planck: father of the theory
• Einstein: the parent who nurtured it
• Niels Bohr: pioneered it’s development 

• quanta - packet of energy
• Photon for light (proved by Einstein)
• quantum leap- by Niels; in which electrons only take certain amount of energy to excite -> discrete

🪐 Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle

“the uncertainty principle states that we cannot know both the position and speed of a particle, such as a photon or electron, with perfect accuracy; the more we nail down the particle's position, the less we know about its speed and vice” - Caltech

h - Planck’s constant 

• it’s not possible to predict where an electron will appear, but rather, by its probability
• ‘quantum mechanics does not describe what happens to physical system, but rather, only hope a physical system affects another physical system’

 

Lesson 4 - Particles

⚛️ Higg’s bosons

• quanta 

⚛️ Standard Models 

Lesson 5 - Grain of Space

General relativity and Quantum mechanics can’t both be right!

• Newton: universal gravity by combining Galileo parabolas and ellipses of Kepler 
• Maxwell: equation of electromagnetic by combining theories of electricity and magnetism 
• Einstein: relativity by resolving an apparent conflict between electromagnetism and mechanics

☄️ Loop quantum gravity

• an endeavour to combine general relativity and quantum mechanics

☄️ Plank’s star

-> the entire matter of sun is condensed into the space of an atom

• Not stable: condensed and rebound again: expansion of universe-> explosion of black hole 

Lesson 6 - Probability, time and the heart of black holes

🛰️ Heat

• previously thought of some sort of liquid ‘caloric’ from 1 or 2 liquids (hot and cold)
• Decided by James Maxwell and Ludwig Boltzmann
• the difference between the post and the future exist only when there’s heat

: pendulum swinging forever (momentum shall be initiated by every obtained from stationery point- not from stationary position

🛰️ Boltzmann

• movement of heat from hot too cold is due to sheer chance! - large degree of probability 

Thermodynamics- The Science of heat 

Statistical mechanics- the science of the probability of different motions

What is a hot gravitational field ? -> what is a vibrating time? ->  what exactly is the flow of time? 

‘To trust immediate intuitions rather than collective examination that is rational, careful and intelligent is not wisdom: it is the presumption of an old man who refuses to believe the great works outside his village is any different from the one which he has always known’ - p59

1. Quantum
2. Gravitational
3. Thermodynamic

In Closing - Ourselves

Mesocospic - 2014; details mapping of the brain structure of a mammal has been achieved

• scientists and philosophers are discussing about special ideas on how the mathematical form of the structures can correspond to the subjective experience of consciousness.

Giulio Tononi - Integrated Information Theory 

• an attempt to characterise quantitatively the structure that a system must have in order to be conscious
• When we are awake (conscious) VS asleep (unconscious)

‘Our appetite for life is voracious, our thirst for life insatiable’ - Lucretius (De rerum natura, III, 1084)

the art of believing despite anxiousness.

The temperature is starting to drop. My fingertips started to stiffen from the coldness, as well as the sole of my feet. Gloomy cloudy started to march in the sky, darkening the day. Though the park is just 10 minutes away from the bustling city centre, I found myself being comforted by the stillness in the air, the isolation of the mind, and the faint swaying of the leaves surrounding me. 

There is this huge tree in front of me, standing still with its beautifully-structured branches, with globular fruits-that-i-don't-know-the-name of, hanging randomly over the course of the branches. 

Looking at this tree made me wonder, how trees are such amazing creatures. From the moment of their 'birth' in this worlds, they have been fixated to one place. They consume the nutrients from the same soil since their embryonic development, until the rest of their life. They grew up well despite being in solitude, without the care and warmth of' parents and siblings;. They stood still all year- or even decades long, despite the changing of seasons, through the harsh winter, the rainy autumn and spring, the blazing and scorching summer. Yet- they never falter, never complain, never force to change things, and stand up loyal to what they've been fated for. 

It made me ponder upon having the characteristics of resilience and believing, despite the anxiousness. Growing up, I always live having the vision of my desired future. Being a dominant Ni user (reference: read more on MBTI cognitive functions here), I see life as patterns- and I find the pleasure in 'planning' my life according to the pattern I observed- if that makes sense (idk how to explain haha). While this gave me advantages in building my own 'future blueprint', with the necessary roads and pathways carved in my mind,  knowing exactly what I need to do to achieve it, it can also be a curse.

A curse of trapping myself in my self-made vision. Before anyone else do it, I've already 'categorised' myself in a box- in a 'character' with pre-determined characteristics and quest of tasks and missions to accomplish. 

And by doing that, come the anxiety- 'what if things didn't work out?', 'what if my plan failed?', 'what if my judgement and planning is not good enough?'. And when those thoughts come creeping my mind and pollute it, it clouded my judgements of the current reality I am in. I am trapped in my Ni-Ti loop (again; INFJ reference). I started to get 'too absorbed' and 'too obsessed' of living in the future, while ignoring what's in front of my eyes.  And most importantly, I forgot that I am a mere Servant- that there's an even more magnificent Creator overseeing all of our affairs- that Allah is the greatest planner.

It took me a looong time to 'berdamai dengan takdir'. I always push myself to the hardest to get to the end goals I am envisioning. And when I 'failed' to do that, I drown myself in overthinkingness and the endless 'what ifs?'. 

Looking at the trees, I envy them. How they live their whole life in obedience, in trusting whatever predetermined destiny that Allah has set for them. Some trees grow up in the abundance of gorgeous-untouched nature, tucked hidden in the deep forest, away from man's destructions. While some, they grow up in the middle of bustling city. Their roots contaminated by the pollutants in the nutrients-deprived soils, their cells having to respirate from the tainted air from the exhaust emissions from cars and lorries. Yet-, they still persevere, and keep praising their Creator in humility. 

وَلِلَّهِۤ يَسۡجُدُۤ مَا فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مِن دَآبَّةٖ وَٱلۡمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَهُمۡ لَا يَسۡتَكۡبِرُونَ

And to Allah prostate all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth, of the live moving creatures and the angels, and they are not proud [i.e. they worship their Lord (Allah) with humility]. 16:49 Surah Nahl

- tafseer by Muhsin Khan

 

 I think it was during my exchange year in Glasgow, when I got rejected to every single internships I applied to despite countless efforts- that I was in great despair. Due to the scary feelings that if I don't get an internship now, I will not be cut it to apply to master scholarships. As there are thousands and thousands of amazing applicants to the scholarships, especially in Europe. And knowing how competitive and bright are the applicants, I was really determined to get an internship so I can 'stand a chance'. But Allah planned otherwise. I wasn't able to secure a proper 'lab-work' intership that I desired, despite my relentless efforts. I was hitting the rock bottom at that time. 

But after the whirlwind of emotions I had during that year, I came back to Romania to finish my final year. And after some (and some more) contemplation and merenung diri. I am finally be able to see things in bigger pictures-

I read somewhere that when we pray to Allah, Allah is 'shy' to return with an empty hand. All our duas are actually being granted. It is just that the way it 'manifests' may vary. They are either:

1. 'Yes'

2. 'Yes, but not now'

3.  'I have  planned something greater for you'

And if it is not being 'granted' in this life, we all will get the rewarded for the duas we prayed in our afterlife! How amazing is that!

Now that's a real REAL privilege we have as His Servant. What do you mean that we can pray for literally EVERYTHING and be rewarded on that, no matter what??? So being delulu is not just a myth, it is a real thing that we can (and encouraged) to do because Allah is the All-Hearing and All-Merciful???

I don't know why it take me looooong enough to realise that. Maybe that's the reason behind the 'delays' I had last year when I didn't get the internships, despite my previous efforts of perfecting my portfolios and doing a lot of extracurricular activities. It turns out, Allah wanted to teach me the 'art of believing in Him, despite anxiousness' (':

Fast forward now, I am doing my internship at a national research institute (despite the repeatedly-failed experiments, I'm really grateful of this experience!), and I also secured 2 fully-funded scholarships in Europe for my master before even graduating :' Alhamdulillah ala kulli hal. 

Not even a leaf falls without His knowledge

- Surah Al-An'am 6:59 

So, just like the trees, and His other obedient creatures, I want to hold on to the rope of hope and believe onto Him, despite the anxiousness that's constantly weighing down my heavy heart. To dissociate myself from the wordy attachment in the so-called pursuit of finding happiness set by society. To always believe in what Allah has planned for me, despite not seeing it. To not be disappointed nor dejected by what's happening, rather to see beyond that- of what Allah is trying to teach me in those experiences and encounters (:

May we all get to 'berdamai dengan takdir', and be less harsh to ourselves for not being able to 'achieve' what we wanted. After all, we all are merely His weak creatures, trying our best to perfecting ourselves, becoming better everyday, despite the harshness of life (': So, chin up! 

A dua that I recently stumbled upon: 

اللَّهُمَّ رَحْمَتَكَ أَرْجُو فَلَا تَكِلْنِي إِلَى نَفْسِي طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ وَأَصْلِحْ لِي شَأْنِي كُلَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَا أَنْتَ

“O Allah, I hope for Your mercy. Do not leave me to myself even for a blink of an eye. Correct all of my affairs for me. There is none worthy of worship except You.”

This dua is one of the supplications of the distressed. The Prophet SAW advised his daughter, Fatima RA, to say it in the morning and evening. 

You are asking Allah SWT not to leave you to yourself because when you put your trust in Him, your affairs will be okay. You may make mistakes, be led by your desires, or lack wisdom, so you ask the One who constantly manages the affairs of the world not to leave you to your own devices.

If you are in distress, you should be hopeful of Allah's mercy and expect that He will take care of all your problems. Knowing that in itself brings me relief immediately—what’s better than that? 

- by sister Zakeeya Ali, jazakallahu khairan (:

10.04.2025 (half), finished on 16.04.2025,

Parcul Izvor, București

Playing song: chowol (초월) - 사색 (思索) shape of regret

faith and courage- a heartfelt conversation with her (:

It is 15:13 now, and I am sitting on the bench in front of my faculty in gradina botanica.

I finished a lecture of a subject that I really like for this semester - Genetică Moleculară, the last second semester before I graduated. I went to my professor afterwards for some follow-up questions… something on transposons and such (fun fact: from biology pov- we are actually almost 50% virus? almost half of our genes are actually similar to that of virus!!). 

"You know what, the more I look at you... the more you look like a virus...."

- my genetic professor :D 

that's a good nerdy pickup line I'll save in my dictionary for fun haha

… and... we ended up talking more about different things, on growth, solitude, faiths, and more.

There were a LOT to unfold, but, in essential, she reminded me to be truthful of myself, and that Allah knows everything in my heart- yes, she said that, despite being an Orthodox herself. 

Being a visibly woman of faith as a hijabi, it is not easy, especially as a minority in the Western world. She told me that, although she wishes for my wellness for the next steps I am taking in research and academia, she reminded me to expect rejections, due to my identity as a muslim. And to always remember to open up to others- to seek help, especially from those around me. I may seem strong and all for surviving being alone in the past few years, studying far away from my home and comfort zone, but she knew it was not easy at all. She reminded me whenever I go, it is important to always make a comfort space for myself (:

‘No matter what you do, Allah knows the best in your heart.’ - that was the second time she mentioned this in our (long) conversation.

‘That’s the advice from an old lady like me.’


Although she’s not a muslim (more of non-practicing orthodox), I believe she understands the true essence of faith, more than the others who self-claimed to be 'more religious' themselves. She spent the her whole life searching for the truth, she questioned everything, and she refused to be self-tied to what society imposes, especially regarding one's faiths. And being a genetic professor, I think that really contributes much to influencing her thinking process.

In these complex cascades of how life itself began, how living organisms are being encoded in mere sequences of nucleotides denoted by 4 letters 'A,T,G,C', it is impossible to say that it all are coincidences.' - my thoughts 

Talking with her made me realised how privileged I am to be walking in this path of life I chose- though sometimes I am blinded with my own anxiety to notice that- typical ungrateful servant.

I can't imagine being a woman of the past- trying to pave her own path at the time when society are clipping down our wings- when women are being deprived and condemned for choosing her own path- saying they're selfish to do that and should settle for just serving their family as a wife and mother. I am glad that my parents are very supportive to whatever I am doing, never setting a 'deadline' or ushing me to settle down and build a family before my 'youth is gone'. They believe that I can take care of myself and will stick to my principles despite being put everywhere, and most importantly, they trust that Allah will take care of me wherever I go. Having such a strong support system, that believe in you fully, is really the biggest privilege one can have (': 

And being able to visibly show my faith is another huge privilege I have. Though sometimes I fear for rejections, and I'm afraid of not demonstrating the right way of how a muslimah should be- giving false impression to my Romanian friends and unintentionally tainting the religion perceptions due to my foolish mistakes and ignorances, I hope the 3 years of me being in the faculty has at least made them think a bit more kindly of our religion- a religion that brings peace and kindness. I believe that action speaks louder than mere preaches and words :'

When my professor told me to beware of the difficulties I may receive in the future, it did scare me a bit. But also, ignited a desire to prove that I can still accomplish things despite my identity (: And with that, I thank her for her genuine concern, and for reminding me of Allah's abundant mercy- "Allah knows the best in your heart".

I can only pray for goodness for her, and may Allah give her hidayah and rahmah. May Allah bestow His insurmountable mercy to her and to other wandering souls looking for the truth, amin ya rabbal alamin. 

May I get to use the bounty and privileges Allah rewarded me in this dunya, to make me persevere in His path, to lift our ummah in my capability, and to always be truthful and humble in heart, amin,

And may you, who are reading this, no matter what battle you are fighting alone in silence, I pray that Allah will ease everything and give you a heart full of gratitude and faith, amin ya rabbal alamin. We all are in this together (:

playing song: 무음 by sunwoojunga 

15:25,

Bucuresti,

13.01.2025