How did we get here? Where are we going next?

October 5, 2024

How did we get here? Where are we going next? The "creatix" take on the universe and life on Earth.

 1. What is the universe?

No one knows for sure. At Creatix, we see the universe as a matrix. A matrix is a place or platform where things are created. To create is to transform. To transform is to turn input into output upon application of a force or process. The universe is a place or platform where energy is transformed into different combinations, shapes, and forms. 

2. What is this universe made of?

No one knows for sure. Almost everything in this universe seems to be "energy", which is defined as the capacity to do work. The universe seems to be made of this "capacity to do work", which is constantly being "worked up". Energy is continually transformed into forces that transform input into output. The output of one process becomes the input for another process as in an eternal chain reaction of energy processing over time. Everything seems to move forward in time, and nothing backwards. 

3. What's the fundamental truth in this universe?

No one knows for sure. Our take is that the truth is work. There's no magic; just work. Everything is work. Everything is energy, the capacity to do work, being worked up or transformed. If you want something in this universe, you have to use energy and put in the necessary work. 

4. What are the three main creations in this universe?  

Gravity, electromagnetism, and the strong nuclear force are the three main creations because they form all other creations. Stars, planets, and cells ("SPCs", pronounced as species) are their three main creations in our opinion because stars create the elements that form planets like Earth, which hosts the organic compounds that created cells, which formed the interesting network phenomena that we call life.  

1. Stars

Stars are gravitational clusters of hydrogen atoms. Gravity presses the hydrogen atoms together forcing the fusion of hydrogen atom pairs into single helium atoms. Since one helium atom is slightly more stable than two separate hydrogen atoms, there is some remnant energy that is released in the fusion process in the form of radiation. That remnant radiation emitted as a result of the fusion that converts two hydrogen atoms into one helium atom is the light and heat generated by the star. 

Once stars run out of hydrogen fuel (i.e. all hydrogen has been fused into helium), gravity fuses helium atoms fuse into heavier elements.  At some point in time (at the creation of iron), the star becomes too heavy, essentially collapsing or imploding on its own weight. The inward collision compresses similarly charged particles together up to a point where the repulsion of similarly charged particles eventually makes the star explode. The explosion of the star releases cosmic debris full of heavy elements. 

2. Planets

Gravity collects some of that star dust or heavy cosmic debris to form the celestial bodies called planets. These planets begin to gravitate around stars, which gives them varying degrees of heat and light depending on the distance and gravitational path. 

At least in one planet in an otherwise ordinary spot in the universe, the right conditions emerged for the formation of an enclosing atmosphere and a versatile solvent formed by two atoms of hydrogen and one of oxygen, which is known as water. In water or in connection with water, electromagnetism was also able to combine atoms of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen (CHON) into organic compounds. 

Some organic compounds on Earth turned out to be polymers (long molecules) or strings of amino acids (RNA and DNA) that do at least two super interesting things: (i) serve as electromagnetic templates for the assembly of other amino acid into three dimensional self-folding structures called proteins; and (ii) self-replicate upon accumulating or consuming organic matter. When these self-replicating protein factories (RNA and DNA) got trapped or encapsulated inside watery bubbles enclosed by a fatty membrane or wall, the first cells were formed. 

3. Cells

Cells are the protagonists of life on Earth. Cells are the factories of life. Cells are self-replicating, auto regulated, factories of organic life. All life on Earth is cellular life. All living things are made of cells. A bacteria can be made of one cell. A human being is made of about 36 trillion cells. 

Cells interact with their surrounding environment metabolizing organic matter into cellular energy (ATP), producing proteins (building blocks of organisms), and processing information for cellular network communication. These cellular processes generate the complex and dynamically interactive phenomena known as life. 

• Metabolism. Cells consume organic matter that makes them grow and split, resulting in exponential replication. Cells shelter the biological furnaces (mitochondria) that produce cellular energy (turn food into ATP). 

• Production. Cells shelter and power the protein-building machinery (RNA and DNA) that assemble amino acids into proteins (the three dimensional, self-folding, building blocks of the cells, tissues, and organs that create the systems of life). Cells form clusters that are called tissue, which form organs, which form systems, which form complex living organisms. 

• Communication. Cells are organic data processors that regulate life. Some cells specialize in sensory perception and signaling communication. These cells called neurons can process environmental stimuli as input for functional processing that generates output that can be further processed as in a chain reaction of continuous data processing that leads to intracellular and intercellular communication. Cellular network communication can generate the multidimensional self-regulation system than maintains balanced functioning (homeostasis) by producing counterbalancing integrated perceptions (IPs) such as pain and pain relief. These IPs (pain and pain relief) end up controlling or dictating the behavior of advanced living organisms such as humans and other animals on Earth. 

4. How did we get here? 

After a little over four billion years of evolution and natural selection, the organic process of life got us to where we are now. Earth is inhabited by zillions of cells processing all sorts of stimuli into output, and creating the incredibly complex cellular network called life. 

In the business of life, whatever works works (www). Whatever moves life forward, moves forward with life. That process is referred to as natural selection. With the passage of time, there are changes (intentional adaptations and random mutations) collectively referred to as evolution. 

5. What controls human and animal behavior?

Humans and all other animals on Earth are the heirs of pain and the slaves of pain relief. Everything, absolutely everything, humans and all other animals on Earth do is avoid pain and seek pain relief. The perception of pain, and what constitutes pay relief, may vary and may even be consciously programmed and reprogrammed by smart humans. However, the underlying binary mechanism (avoid pain / seek pain relief) is always the same. 

6. What is the source of innovation? 

Trick question. There is no single source. There are many different sources of innovation. At Creatix, we focus on pain as the major source of innovation. In seeking to avoid pain and seeking to obtain pain relief, animals end up developing different technologies (tools and methods) that ultimately help them thrive and survive. Humans are not an exception. Human creativity derives from the biological need to avoid pain and seek pain relief. 

7. What are the three main human inventions of all time?

Very debatable and subject to many different opinions. Our selection is: (i) language (including logic and math); (ii) fiction (storytelling including mythology and money); and (iii) science (including physical sciences and computer science). 

Human civilization and progress derive from the development of languages to communicate ideas; the creation of fictional myths (e.g. gods and deities) to organize society; and the development of science to build empirical (evidence-based and independently verifiable) knowledge. 

8. What will the future bring?

No one knows for sure because the future has not been created yet. The farther the future, the harder it is to predict it. Our prediction is that the remaining 75 years of this century will be dominated by the rollout or extension of the AI Revolution. Within the next decades, we will commence or continue the AI Robotics Era (AIRE). By the year 2100, intelligent robots and drones should be ubiquitous on Earth. For the most part, AI will increase productivity and be a net positive for humanity. 

Eventually, farther into the future, centuries or millennia away. humans will most likely artificially "evolve" into a different species less dependant on biology and more liberated by technology. At some point in time, a Transhuman Era should begin. Transhumanism would be the key for extended survival on Earth and beyond into nearby space. As for the extension of life into outer space, that may take millennia of advances and superior technological grace. The best is yet to come. 

Now you know it. Don't stress, finesse.

Live well. Die better. Enjoy.

www.creatix.one