The One-Electron Universe postulate is true - what simple change can I make to change the whole universe?












8












$begingroup$



The one-electron universe postulate, proposed by John Wheeler in a
telephone call to Richard Feynman in the spring of 1940, hypothesises
that all electrons and positrons are actually manifestations of a
single entity moving backwards and forwards in time. According to
Feynman:



“ I received a telephone call one day at the graduate college at
Princeton from Professor Wheeler, in which he said, "Feynman, I know
why all electrons have the same charge and the same mass" "Why?"
"Because, they are all the same electron!"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One-electron_universe




The supposition is that there is only one electron. It stands to reason that if I could change that electron, I could change the properties of the whole Universe.



Assume that the postulate is true.



Question



Given foreseeable science, what properties of a single electron could be changed? In theory, could we change the charge? Could we change the mass?










share|improve this question









$endgroup$


This question asks for hard science. All answers to this question should be backed up by equations, empirical evidence, scientific papers, other citations, etc. Answers that do not satisfy this requirement might be removed. See the tag description for more information.










  • 2




    $begingroup$
    We need an Universebuilding.SE - Oh, wait, it's called Physics. You will get the inevitable - "no, it's not possible because we exist" answers.
    $endgroup$
    – Agrajag
    7 hours ago








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @Agrajag "Hardly ever sarcastic", eh?
    $endgroup$
    – Gryphon
    7 hours ago






  • 3




    $begingroup$
    If the postulate is true, then you can’t change an electron. Because many of the electrons around you at present are the future forms of the electron you’re planning to change, thus proving that you didn’t change it.
    $endgroup$
    – Mike Scott
    6 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    I am almost certain that this hard science question uses the word "theory" with a meaning different from the meaning it has in hard sciences...
    $endgroup$
    – AlexP
    6 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @chaslyfromUK Some are past, some are future. You’d expect a roughly 50/50 ratio on average.
    $endgroup$
    – Mike Scott
    6 hours ago


















8












$begingroup$



The one-electron universe postulate, proposed by John Wheeler in a
telephone call to Richard Feynman in the spring of 1940, hypothesises
that all electrons and positrons are actually manifestations of a
single entity moving backwards and forwards in time. According to
Feynman:



“ I received a telephone call one day at the graduate college at
Princeton from Professor Wheeler, in which he said, "Feynman, I know
why all electrons have the same charge and the same mass" "Why?"
"Because, they are all the same electron!"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One-electron_universe




The supposition is that there is only one electron. It stands to reason that if I could change that electron, I could change the properties of the whole Universe.



Assume that the postulate is true.



Question



Given foreseeable science, what properties of a single electron could be changed? In theory, could we change the charge? Could we change the mass?










share|improve this question









$endgroup$


This question asks for hard science. All answers to this question should be backed up by equations, empirical evidence, scientific papers, other citations, etc. Answers that do not satisfy this requirement might be removed. See the tag description for more information.










  • 2




    $begingroup$
    We need an Universebuilding.SE - Oh, wait, it's called Physics. You will get the inevitable - "no, it's not possible because we exist" answers.
    $endgroup$
    – Agrajag
    7 hours ago








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @Agrajag "Hardly ever sarcastic", eh?
    $endgroup$
    – Gryphon
    7 hours ago






  • 3




    $begingroup$
    If the postulate is true, then you can’t change an electron. Because many of the electrons around you at present are the future forms of the electron you’re planning to change, thus proving that you didn’t change it.
    $endgroup$
    – Mike Scott
    6 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    I am almost certain that this hard science question uses the word "theory" with a meaning different from the meaning it has in hard sciences...
    $endgroup$
    – AlexP
    6 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @chaslyfromUK Some are past, some are future. You’d expect a roughly 50/50 ratio on average.
    $endgroup$
    – Mike Scott
    6 hours ago
















8












8








8


1



$begingroup$



The one-electron universe postulate, proposed by John Wheeler in a
telephone call to Richard Feynman in the spring of 1940, hypothesises
that all electrons and positrons are actually manifestations of a
single entity moving backwards and forwards in time. According to
Feynman:



“ I received a telephone call one day at the graduate college at
Princeton from Professor Wheeler, in which he said, "Feynman, I know
why all electrons have the same charge and the same mass" "Why?"
"Because, they are all the same electron!"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One-electron_universe




The supposition is that there is only one electron. It stands to reason that if I could change that electron, I could change the properties of the whole Universe.



Assume that the postulate is true.



Question



Given foreseeable science, what properties of a single electron could be changed? In theory, could we change the charge? Could we change the mass?










share|improve this question









$endgroup$





The one-electron universe postulate, proposed by John Wheeler in a
telephone call to Richard Feynman in the spring of 1940, hypothesises
that all electrons and positrons are actually manifestations of a
single entity moving backwards and forwards in time. According to
Feynman:



“ I received a telephone call one day at the graduate college at
Princeton from Professor Wheeler, in which he said, "Feynman, I know
why all electrons have the same charge and the same mass" "Why?"
"Because, they are all the same electron!"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One-electron_universe




The supposition is that there is only one electron. It stands to reason that if I could change that electron, I could change the properties of the whole Universe.



Assume that the postulate is true.



Question



Given foreseeable science, what properties of a single electron could be changed? In theory, could we change the charge? Could we change the mass?







hard-science universe






share|improve this question













share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked 7 hours ago









chasly from UKchasly from UK

18.4k778164




18.4k778164



This question asks for hard science. All answers to this question should be backed up by equations, empirical evidence, scientific papers, other citations, etc. Answers that do not satisfy this requirement might be removed. See the tag description for more information.




This question asks for hard science. All answers to this question should be backed up by equations, empirical evidence, scientific papers, other citations, etc. Answers that do not satisfy this requirement might be removed. See the tag description for more information.









  • 2




    $begingroup$
    We need an Universebuilding.SE - Oh, wait, it's called Physics. You will get the inevitable - "no, it's not possible because we exist" answers.
    $endgroup$
    – Agrajag
    7 hours ago








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @Agrajag "Hardly ever sarcastic", eh?
    $endgroup$
    – Gryphon
    7 hours ago






  • 3




    $begingroup$
    If the postulate is true, then you can’t change an electron. Because many of the electrons around you at present are the future forms of the electron you’re planning to change, thus proving that you didn’t change it.
    $endgroup$
    – Mike Scott
    6 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    I am almost certain that this hard science question uses the word "theory" with a meaning different from the meaning it has in hard sciences...
    $endgroup$
    – AlexP
    6 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @chaslyfromUK Some are past, some are future. You’d expect a roughly 50/50 ratio on average.
    $endgroup$
    – Mike Scott
    6 hours ago
















  • 2




    $begingroup$
    We need an Universebuilding.SE - Oh, wait, it's called Physics. You will get the inevitable - "no, it's not possible because we exist" answers.
    $endgroup$
    – Agrajag
    7 hours ago








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @Agrajag "Hardly ever sarcastic", eh?
    $endgroup$
    – Gryphon
    7 hours ago






  • 3




    $begingroup$
    If the postulate is true, then you can’t change an electron. Because many of the electrons around you at present are the future forms of the electron you’re planning to change, thus proving that you didn’t change it.
    $endgroup$
    – Mike Scott
    6 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    I am almost certain that this hard science question uses the word "theory" with a meaning different from the meaning it has in hard sciences...
    $endgroup$
    – AlexP
    6 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @chaslyfromUK Some are past, some are future. You’d expect a roughly 50/50 ratio on average.
    $endgroup$
    – Mike Scott
    6 hours ago










2




2




$begingroup$
We need an Universebuilding.SE - Oh, wait, it's called Physics. You will get the inevitable - "no, it's not possible because we exist" answers.
$endgroup$
– Agrajag
7 hours ago






$begingroup$
We need an Universebuilding.SE - Oh, wait, it's called Physics. You will get the inevitable - "no, it's not possible because we exist" answers.
$endgroup$
– Agrajag
7 hours ago






1




1




$begingroup$
@Agrajag "Hardly ever sarcastic", eh?
$endgroup$
– Gryphon
7 hours ago




$begingroup$
@Agrajag "Hardly ever sarcastic", eh?
$endgroup$
– Gryphon
7 hours ago




3




3




$begingroup$
If the postulate is true, then you can’t change an electron. Because many of the electrons around you at present are the future forms of the electron you’re planning to change, thus proving that you didn’t change it.
$endgroup$
– Mike Scott
6 hours ago




$begingroup$
If the postulate is true, then you can’t change an electron. Because many of the electrons around you at present are the future forms of the electron you’re planning to change, thus proving that you didn’t change it.
$endgroup$
– Mike Scott
6 hours ago












$begingroup$
I am almost certain that this hard science question uses the word "theory" with a meaning different from the meaning it has in hard sciences...
$endgroup$
– AlexP
6 hours ago




$begingroup$
I am almost certain that this hard science question uses the word "theory" with a meaning different from the meaning it has in hard sciences...
$endgroup$
– AlexP
6 hours ago




1




1




$begingroup$
@chaslyfromUK Some are past, some are future. You’d expect a roughly 50/50 ratio on average.
$endgroup$
– Mike Scott
6 hours ago






$begingroup$
@chaslyfromUK Some are past, some are future. You’d expect a roughly 50/50 ratio on average.
$endgroup$
– Mike Scott
6 hours ago












2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















12












$begingroup$

This universe is fundamentally impossible, since some electrons have their worldlines terminated in a black hole. Without a full working model of quantum gravity, we can't make any firm predictions about what happens to such electrons, other than the singularity is likely to end their existence. The black hole will inherit the charge, mass and angular momentum, but lose all the electron-ness of the particle's information (no hair theorem).



You can also have electrons terminated in beta capture events (which turns a proton into a neutron and the electron stops existing).



So, there won't be anything you can change, because there won't be just one electron. The model is completely incompatible with current understanding of physics.






share|improve this answer









$endgroup$









  • 5




    $begingroup$
    Not to mention that beta decay produces electrons (or positrons) de novo, guaranteed to have had no prior existence.
    $endgroup$
    – AlexP
    6 hours ago






  • 3




    $begingroup$
    I like the phrase, "This universe is basically impossible", I must say I frequently think that. If I wasn't living in it I wouldn't believe it.
    $endgroup$
    – chasly from UK
    6 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    The universe isn't fundamentally impossible: We don't know that it's possible because we don't know what happens to the electron inside the black hole. That's different to saying that we have proved that it's impossible.
    $endgroup$
    – immibis
    2 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    I could be mistaken here. But I'm downvoting this because the question very clearly says "Assume that the postulate is true". You are saying the concept is impossible, but many other threads here deal with outright impossible things like magic and other fantasy devices. I don't know why it's difficult to imagine a universe where most of what we know comes out as true, but things are altered or handwaved where they need be.
    $endgroup$
    – Finn O'leary
    1 hour ago










  • $begingroup$
    I was hoping you'd use the term future null infinity...
    $endgroup$
    – forest
    21 mins ago



















5












$begingroup$

Whether the Wheeler postulate is true or not, under the known laws of physics, you can't change any of the properties of an electron. Mass, charge, spin, magnetic moment, etc. are all intrinsic properties. They are not mutable by any known (or even to the best of my knowledge hypothesized) mechanism.



As to the postulate itself, as pointed out in comments and in tylisrn's answer, there are strong reasons to not believe that the Wheeler postulate is true. In addition to problems with any mechanism that results in the creation or destruction of a lone electron or positron, the Wheeler postulate runs into difficulties in explaining the observed imbalance of matter and anti-matter. If a single electron is zipping backwards and forwards through time, we should see it moving backwards as often we see it moving forwards. This would imply equal numbers of electrons and positrons, which we simply do not observe.






share|improve this answer










New contributor




MacA is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






$endgroup$













    Your Answer





    StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function () {
    return StackExchange.using("mathjaxEditing", function () {
    StackExchange.MarkdownEditor.creationCallbacks.add(function (editor, postfix) {
    StackExchange.mathjaxEditing.prepareWmdForMathJax(editor, postfix, [["$", "$"], ["\\(","\\)"]]);
    });
    });
    }, "mathjax-editing");

    StackExchange.ready(function() {
    var channelOptions = {
    tags: "".split(" "),
    id: "579"
    };
    initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

    StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
    // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
    if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
    StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
    createEditor();
    });
    }
    else {
    createEditor();
    }
    });

    function createEditor() {
    StackExchange.prepareEditor({
    heartbeatType: 'answer',
    autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
    convertImagesToLinks: false,
    noModals: true,
    showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
    reputationToPostImages: null,
    bindNavPrevention: true,
    postfix: "",
    imageUploader: {
    brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
    contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
    allowUrls: true
    },
    noCode: true, onDemand: true,
    discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
    ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
    });


    }
    });














    draft saved

    draft discarded


















    StackExchange.ready(
    function () {
    StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fworldbuilding.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f142353%2fthe-one-electron-universe-postulate-is-true-what-simple-change-can-i-make-to-c%23new-answer', 'question_page');
    }
    );

    Post as a guest















    Required, but never shown

























    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes








    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    12












    $begingroup$

    This universe is fundamentally impossible, since some electrons have their worldlines terminated in a black hole. Without a full working model of quantum gravity, we can't make any firm predictions about what happens to such electrons, other than the singularity is likely to end their existence. The black hole will inherit the charge, mass and angular momentum, but lose all the electron-ness of the particle's information (no hair theorem).



    You can also have electrons terminated in beta capture events (which turns a proton into a neutron and the electron stops existing).



    So, there won't be anything you can change, because there won't be just one electron. The model is completely incompatible with current understanding of physics.






    share|improve this answer









    $endgroup$









    • 5




      $begingroup$
      Not to mention that beta decay produces electrons (or positrons) de novo, guaranteed to have had no prior existence.
      $endgroup$
      – AlexP
      6 hours ago






    • 3




      $begingroup$
      I like the phrase, "This universe is basically impossible", I must say I frequently think that. If I wasn't living in it I wouldn't believe it.
      $endgroup$
      – chasly from UK
      6 hours ago










    • $begingroup$
      The universe isn't fundamentally impossible: We don't know that it's possible because we don't know what happens to the electron inside the black hole. That's different to saying that we have proved that it's impossible.
      $endgroup$
      – immibis
      2 hours ago










    • $begingroup$
      I could be mistaken here. But I'm downvoting this because the question very clearly says "Assume that the postulate is true". You are saying the concept is impossible, but many other threads here deal with outright impossible things like magic and other fantasy devices. I don't know why it's difficult to imagine a universe where most of what we know comes out as true, but things are altered or handwaved where they need be.
      $endgroup$
      – Finn O'leary
      1 hour ago










    • $begingroup$
      I was hoping you'd use the term future null infinity...
      $endgroup$
      – forest
      21 mins ago
















    12












    $begingroup$

    This universe is fundamentally impossible, since some electrons have their worldlines terminated in a black hole. Without a full working model of quantum gravity, we can't make any firm predictions about what happens to such electrons, other than the singularity is likely to end their existence. The black hole will inherit the charge, mass and angular momentum, but lose all the electron-ness of the particle's information (no hair theorem).



    You can also have electrons terminated in beta capture events (which turns a proton into a neutron and the electron stops existing).



    So, there won't be anything you can change, because there won't be just one electron. The model is completely incompatible with current understanding of physics.






    share|improve this answer









    $endgroup$









    • 5




      $begingroup$
      Not to mention that beta decay produces electrons (or positrons) de novo, guaranteed to have had no prior existence.
      $endgroup$
      – AlexP
      6 hours ago






    • 3




      $begingroup$
      I like the phrase, "This universe is basically impossible", I must say I frequently think that. If I wasn't living in it I wouldn't believe it.
      $endgroup$
      – chasly from UK
      6 hours ago










    • $begingroup$
      The universe isn't fundamentally impossible: We don't know that it's possible because we don't know what happens to the electron inside the black hole. That's different to saying that we have proved that it's impossible.
      $endgroup$
      – immibis
      2 hours ago










    • $begingroup$
      I could be mistaken here. But I'm downvoting this because the question very clearly says "Assume that the postulate is true". You are saying the concept is impossible, but many other threads here deal with outright impossible things like magic and other fantasy devices. I don't know why it's difficult to imagine a universe where most of what we know comes out as true, but things are altered or handwaved where they need be.
      $endgroup$
      – Finn O'leary
      1 hour ago










    • $begingroup$
      I was hoping you'd use the term future null infinity...
      $endgroup$
      – forest
      21 mins ago














    12












    12








    12





    $begingroup$

    This universe is fundamentally impossible, since some electrons have their worldlines terminated in a black hole. Without a full working model of quantum gravity, we can't make any firm predictions about what happens to such electrons, other than the singularity is likely to end their existence. The black hole will inherit the charge, mass and angular momentum, but lose all the electron-ness of the particle's information (no hair theorem).



    You can also have electrons terminated in beta capture events (which turns a proton into a neutron and the electron stops existing).



    So, there won't be anything you can change, because there won't be just one electron. The model is completely incompatible with current understanding of physics.






    share|improve this answer









    $endgroup$



    This universe is fundamentally impossible, since some electrons have their worldlines terminated in a black hole. Without a full working model of quantum gravity, we can't make any firm predictions about what happens to such electrons, other than the singularity is likely to end their existence. The black hole will inherit the charge, mass and angular momentum, but lose all the electron-ness of the particle's information (no hair theorem).



    You can also have electrons terminated in beta capture events (which turns a proton into a neutron and the electron stops existing).



    So, there won't be anything you can change, because there won't be just one electron. The model is completely incompatible with current understanding of physics.







    share|improve this answer












    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer










    answered 7 hours ago









    tylisirntylisirn

    55724




    55724








    • 5




      $begingroup$
      Not to mention that beta decay produces electrons (or positrons) de novo, guaranteed to have had no prior existence.
      $endgroup$
      – AlexP
      6 hours ago






    • 3




      $begingroup$
      I like the phrase, "This universe is basically impossible", I must say I frequently think that. If I wasn't living in it I wouldn't believe it.
      $endgroup$
      – chasly from UK
      6 hours ago










    • $begingroup$
      The universe isn't fundamentally impossible: We don't know that it's possible because we don't know what happens to the electron inside the black hole. That's different to saying that we have proved that it's impossible.
      $endgroup$
      – immibis
      2 hours ago










    • $begingroup$
      I could be mistaken here. But I'm downvoting this because the question very clearly says "Assume that the postulate is true". You are saying the concept is impossible, but many other threads here deal with outright impossible things like magic and other fantasy devices. I don't know why it's difficult to imagine a universe where most of what we know comes out as true, but things are altered or handwaved where they need be.
      $endgroup$
      – Finn O'leary
      1 hour ago










    • $begingroup$
      I was hoping you'd use the term future null infinity...
      $endgroup$
      – forest
      21 mins ago














    • 5




      $begingroup$
      Not to mention that beta decay produces electrons (or positrons) de novo, guaranteed to have had no prior existence.
      $endgroup$
      – AlexP
      6 hours ago






    • 3




      $begingroup$
      I like the phrase, "This universe is basically impossible", I must say I frequently think that. If I wasn't living in it I wouldn't believe it.
      $endgroup$
      – chasly from UK
      6 hours ago










    • $begingroup$
      The universe isn't fundamentally impossible: We don't know that it's possible because we don't know what happens to the electron inside the black hole. That's different to saying that we have proved that it's impossible.
      $endgroup$
      – immibis
      2 hours ago










    • $begingroup$
      I could be mistaken here. But I'm downvoting this because the question very clearly says "Assume that the postulate is true". You are saying the concept is impossible, but many other threads here deal with outright impossible things like magic and other fantasy devices. I don't know why it's difficult to imagine a universe where most of what we know comes out as true, but things are altered or handwaved where they need be.
      $endgroup$
      – Finn O'leary
      1 hour ago










    • $begingroup$
      I was hoping you'd use the term future null infinity...
      $endgroup$
      – forest
      21 mins ago








    5




    5




    $begingroup$
    Not to mention that beta decay produces electrons (or positrons) de novo, guaranteed to have had no prior existence.
    $endgroup$
    – AlexP
    6 hours ago




    $begingroup$
    Not to mention that beta decay produces electrons (or positrons) de novo, guaranteed to have had no prior existence.
    $endgroup$
    – AlexP
    6 hours ago




    3




    3




    $begingroup$
    I like the phrase, "This universe is basically impossible", I must say I frequently think that. If I wasn't living in it I wouldn't believe it.
    $endgroup$
    – chasly from UK
    6 hours ago




    $begingroup$
    I like the phrase, "This universe is basically impossible", I must say I frequently think that. If I wasn't living in it I wouldn't believe it.
    $endgroup$
    – chasly from UK
    6 hours ago












    $begingroup$
    The universe isn't fundamentally impossible: We don't know that it's possible because we don't know what happens to the electron inside the black hole. That's different to saying that we have proved that it's impossible.
    $endgroup$
    – immibis
    2 hours ago




    $begingroup$
    The universe isn't fundamentally impossible: We don't know that it's possible because we don't know what happens to the electron inside the black hole. That's different to saying that we have proved that it's impossible.
    $endgroup$
    – immibis
    2 hours ago












    $begingroup$
    I could be mistaken here. But I'm downvoting this because the question very clearly says "Assume that the postulate is true". You are saying the concept is impossible, but many other threads here deal with outright impossible things like magic and other fantasy devices. I don't know why it's difficult to imagine a universe where most of what we know comes out as true, but things are altered or handwaved where they need be.
    $endgroup$
    – Finn O'leary
    1 hour ago




    $begingroup$
    I could be mistaken here. But I'm downvoting this because the question very clearly says "Assume that the postulate is true". You are saying the concept is impossible, but many other threads here deal with outright impossible things like magic and other fantasy devices. I don't know why it's difficult to imagine a universe where most of what we know comes out as true, but things are altered or handwaved where they need be.
    $endgroup$
    – Finn O'leary
    1 hour ago












    $begingroup$
    I was hoping you'd use the term future null infinity...
    $endgroup$
    – forest
    21 mins ago




    $begingroup$
    I was hoping you'd use the term future null infinity...
    $endgroup$
    – forest
    21 mins ago











    5












    $begingroup$

    Whether the Wheeler postulate is true or not, under the known laws of physics, you can't change any of the properties of an electron. Mass, charge, spin, magnetic moment, etc. are all intrinsic properties. They are not mutable by any known (or even to the best of my knowledge hypothesized) mechanism.



    As to the postulate itself, as pointed out in comments and in tylisrn's answer, there are strong reasons to not believe that the Wheeler postulate is true. In addition to problems with any mechanism that results in the creation or destruction of a lone electron or positron, the Wheeler postulate runs into difficulties in explaining the observed imbalance of matter and anti-matter. If a single electron is zipping backwards and forwards through time, we should see it moving backwards as often we see it moving forwards. This would imply equal numbers of electrons and positrons, which we simply do not observe.






    share|improve this answer










    New contributor




    MacA is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.






    $endgroup$


















      5












      $begingroup$

      Whether the Wheeler postulate is true or not, under the known laws of physics, you can't change any of the properties of an electron. Mass, charge, spin, magnetic moment, etc. are all intrinsic properties. They are not mutable by any known (or even to the best of my knowledge hypothesized) mechanism.



      As to the postulate itself, as pointed out in comments and in tylisrn's answer, there are strong reasons to not believe that the Wheeler postulate is true. In addition to problems with any mechanism that results in the creation or destruction of a lone electron or positron, the Wheeler postulate runs into difficulties in explaining the observed imbalance of matter and anti-matter. If a single electron is zipping backwards and forwards through time, we should see it moving backwards as often we see it moving forwards. This would imply equal numbers of electrons and positrons, which we simply do not observe.






      share|improve this answer










      New contributor




      MacA is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.






      $endgroup$
















        5












        5








        5





        $begingroup$

        Whether the Wheeler postulate is true or not, under the known laws of physics, you can't change any of the properties of an electron. Mass, charge, spin, magnetic moment, etc. are all intrinsic properties. They are not mutable by any known (or even to the best of my knowledge hypothesized) mechanism.



        As to the postulate itself, as pointed out in comments and in tylisrn's answer, there are strong reasons to not believe that the Wheeler postulate is true. In addition to problems with any mechanism that results in the creation or destruction of a lone electron or positron, the Wheeler postulate runs into difficulties in explaining the observed imbalance of matter and anti-matter. If a single electron is zipping backwards and forwards through time, we should see it moving backwards as often we see it moving forwards. This would imply equal numbers of electrons and positrons, which we simply do not observe.






        share|improve this answer










        New contributor




        MacA is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
        Check out our Code of Conduct.






        $endgroup$



        Whether the Wheeler postulate is true or not, under the known laws of physics, you can't change any of the properties of an electron. Mass, charge, spin, magnetic moment, etc. are all intrinsic properties. They are not mutable by any known (or even to the best of my knowledge hypothesized) mechanism.



        As to the postulate itself, as pointed out in comments and in tylisrn's answer, there are strong reasons to not believe that the Wheeler postulate is true. In addition to problems with any mechanism that results in the creation or destruction of a lone electron or positron, the Wheeler postulate runs into difficulties in explaining the observed imbalance of matter and anti-matter. If a single electron is zipping backwards and forwards through time, we should see it moving backwards as often we see it moving forwards. This would imply equal numbers of electrons and positrons, which we simply do not observe.







        share|improve this answer










        New contributor




        MacA is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
        Check out our Code of Conduct.









        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer








        edited 4 hours ago





















        New contributor




        MacA is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
        Check out our Code of Conduct.









        answered 5 hours ago









        MacAMacA

        514




        514




        New contributor




        MacA is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
        Check out our Code of Conduct.





        New contributor





        MacA is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
        Check out our Code of Conduct.






        MacA is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
        Check out our Code of Conduct.






























            draft saved

            draft discarded




















































            Thanks for contributing an answer to Worldbuilding Stack Exchange!


            • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

            But avoid



            • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

            • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


            Use MathJax to format equations. MathJax reference.


            To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.




            draft saved


            draft discarded














            StackExchange.ready(
            function () {
            StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fworldbuilding.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f142353%2fthe-one-electron-universe-postulate-is-true-what-simple-change-can-i-make-to-c%23new-answer', 'question_page');
            }
            );

            Post as a guest















            Required, but never shown





















































            Required, but never shown














            Required, but never shown












            Required, but never shown







            Required, but never shown

































            Required, but never shown














            Required, but never shown












            Required, but never shown







            Required, but never shown







            Popular posts from this blog

            Bundesstraße 106

            Verónica Boquete

            Ida-Boy-Ed-Garten