# Quantum Matter Influence on Normal Matter **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 27, 2003, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quantum-matter-influence-on-normal-matter/221309 "2003-12-27T21:43:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Question](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ecc23a/32.png) [@Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Question)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quantum-matter-influence-on-normal-matter/221309/1 "2003-12-27T21:43:32Z")
i have a question … maybe it’s a stupid one, i’m not really sure since i’m not an expert … ok, so from what i’ve read apparently our brain is made up at least in part of quantum matter of some sort. i was thinking about reincarnation the other day and i was wondering if it was possible that this quantum matter could influence the shape of our physical synapses and this could be the source of memories from past lives. is there any science behind this? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quantum-matter-influence-on-normal-matter/221309/2 "2003-12-27T21:53:29Z")
There is no such thing as “quantum matter” in this sense, although you can find any number of totally nutcase sites on the web talking about it in mystical terms. [http://www.rialian.com/rnboyd/quantum-matter.htm](http://www.rialian.com/rnboyd/quantum-matter.htm) [http://www.twow.net/ObjText/OtkCaLdQmC.htm](http://www.twow.net/ObjText/OtkCaLdQmC.htm) [http://www.geocities.com/orderofvenetus/office.htm](http://www.geocities.com/orderofvenetus/office.htm) The brain is not made of quantum matter either, there is no such thing as reincarnation, and we have no memories of past lives. At least not in GQ we don’t. So, no, there is no science behind this. ---
**Author:** ![Question](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ecc23a/32.png) [@Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Question)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quantum-matter-influence-on-normal-matter/221309/3 "2003-12-27T22:23:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Exapno Mapcase \* > \*\*There is no such thing as “quantum matter” in this sense, although you can find any number of totally nutcase sites on the web talking about it in mystical terms. > > [http://www.rialian.com/rnboyd/quantum-matter.htm](http://www.rialian.com/rnboyd/quantum-matter.htm) > > [http://www.twow.net/ObjText/OtkCaLdQmC.htm](http://www.twow.net/ObjText/OtkCaLdQmC.htm) > > [http://www.geocities.com/orderofvenetus/office.htm](http://www.geocities.com/orderofvenetus/office.htm) > > The brain is not made of quantum matter either, there is no such thing as reincarnation, and we have no memories of past lives. At least not in GQ we don’t. > > So, no, there is no science behind this. \*\* huh? maybe the i got the terms mixed up. dark matter perhaps? i suppose the question would be “how does dark matter influence normal matter?” … ---
**Author:** ![DreadCthulhu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DreadCthulhu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DreadCthulhu)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quantum-matter-influence-on-normal-matter/221309/4 "2003-12-27T22:52:24Z")
Dark matter effects normal matter via gravity. It is “dark” because we can’t detect though more normal means. Scientist first theorized its existance to explain the fact that from the shape of galaxies and other astronomical phenomina we can only see a small percentage of the total material in the universe. Note, there isn’t any dark matter in your brain. (Well, at least I hope there isn’t . . .) ---
**Author:** ![netscape\_6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8c91f0/32.png) [@netscape\_6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/netscape_6)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quantum-matter-influence-on-normal-matter/221309/5 "2003-12-27T22:58:50Z")
Dark matter is simply normal matter that is dark. Astronomers simply coined the term to refer to matter they could not see. The brain as far as anyone knows is made up of completly normal matter. If you want to learn about some nonstandard types of matter (some theoritcal) even though they have no role in the brain here are some good links do a google search for things like: antimatter, exoctic matter, strange matter, and nuetronium ---
**Author:** ![Question](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ecc23a/32.png) [@Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Question)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quantum-matter-influence-on-normal-matter/221309/6 "2003-12-27T23:05:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by netscape 6 \* > \*\*Dark matter is simply normal matter that is dark. Astronomers simply coined the term to refer to matter they could not see. The brain as far as anyone knows is made up of completly normal matter. > If you want to learn about some nonstandard types of matter (some theoritcal) even though they have no role in the brain here are some good links > > do a google search for things like: antimatter, exoctic matter, strange matter, and nuetronium \*\* so there’s nothing that suggests non-normal matter influences normal matter? ---
**Author:** ![eburacum45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum45/32/8690_2.png) [@eburacum45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum45)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quantum-matter-influence-on-normal-matter/221309/7 "2003-12-27T23:50:20Z")
Hey- the brain is technically made of dark matter, as **netscape 6** points out; it happens to be normal matter which is dark, i.e. non-luminous. However the largest part of dark matter in our universe seems to be also exotic and invisible as well as just dark, unlike our brains. As for quantum matter; sounds expensive… ---
**Author:** ![Question](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ecc23a/32.png) [@Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Question)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quantum-matter-influence-on-normal-matter/221309/8 "2003-12-28T00:21:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by eburacum45 \* > \*\*Hey- > the brain is technically made of dark matter, as **netscape 6** points out; > it happens to be normal matter which is dark, i.e. non-luminous. > > However the largest part of dark matter in our universe seems to be also exotic and invisible as well as just dark, unlike our brains. > > As for quantum matter; sounds expensive… \*\* so it would be safe to assume that dark matter has some influence on normal matter, since it is part of our brain… correct ? ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quantum-matter-influence-on-normal-matter/221309/9 "2003-12-28T00:30:59Z")
No. Dark matter _is_ normal matter. But at astronomic distances you can’t see it because it produces no illumination of its own and has no nearby source of light to reflect. Measurements indicate that there is a lot of matter out there that we aren’t seeing. It isn’t that it is different in some way, just we can’t see it. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quantum-matter-influence-on-normal-matter/221309/10 "2003-12-28T00:33:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by netscape 6 \* > Dark matter is simply normal matter that is dark. That just AIN’T NECESSARILY SO. Here’s a short list of dark matter candidates from a thread over at Bad Astronomy: > [@](#): > > Wimps > Machos > Neutrinos > Gravitinos > Axions > Photinos > monopoles > cosmic string > domain walls > textures > adjacent branes > mirror matter > Black holes > Dyson Spheres ( :dubious: ) > Holeum [Dark matter identified](http://www.badastronomy.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=8456) (emphasis added) Whatever dark matter is, its effect on galactic rotation is such that there should be about 4 solar masses worth of the stuff between us and proxima centauri. If dark matter where just regular old dust or cold gases, we’d see it by its effect on the light from distant stars. We don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quantum-matter-influence-on-normal-matter/221309/11 "2003-12-28T00:38:09Z")
> [@](#): > > **so it would be safe to assume that dark matter has some influence on normal matter, since it is part of our brain… correct ?** No, sorry. **eburacum45** was making a joke. Your brain doesn’t give off light, true, so it is “dark”, but that is a different meaning to the word “dark.” If you scooped out your brain it would be completely visible, but the cosmological dark matter cannot be seen at all. Dark matter exists in large quantities in space but we have no current evidence that any of it is in, on, or around Earth in reasonable amounts or else we would have discovered it a long time ago. Certainly, there is absolutely nothing to suggest that dark matter in any way influences the day to day activities of the human brain. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quantum-matter-influence-on-normal-matter/221309/12 "2003-12-28T00:52:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Exapno Mapcase \* > Certainly, there is absolutely nothing to suggest that dark matter in any way influences the day to day activities of the human brain. But it _might_. One of the things I find really remarkable about the rise of the dark matter theory is that AFAIK, no enterprising SF or Fantasy author has used it as a premise for a book. A Dark Matter update on, for example, the Lovecraft universe, would make a great read! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Question](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ecc23a/32.png) [@Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Question)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quantum-matter-influence-on-normal-matter/221309/13 "2003-12-28T01:05:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Squink \* > \*\*But it _might_. One of the things I find really remarkable about the rise of the dark matter theory is that AFAIK, no enterprising SF or Fantasy author has used it as a premise for a book. A Dark Matter update on, for example, the Lovecraft universe, would make a great read! 🙂 \*\* this is basically what i was getting at. i mean, if the theory, as it stands, includes the existence of dark matter, it’s not implausible that it could have a significant effect on normal matter. i was reading that long-term memory involves alternations in the shape of synapses and i thought that perhaps dark matter could influence the grouping of normal matter and that this could lead to memories of past experiences. ---
**Author:** ![Yumblie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/76d3ee/32.png) [@Yumblie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yumblie)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quantum-matter-influence-on-normal-matter/221309/14 "2003-12-28T01:13:55Z")
The current theory is that dark matter isn’t spread out between individual stars, it’s concentrated outside the galaxy in a large bubble. The only reason we think it’s there is because it has a gravitational influence; we can’t actually see it. “Quantum matter” is most likely another psuedoscience buzz term. Quantum refers to the very small, like atoms, protons, neutrons, etc, which make up all matter, so in effect, all matter is quantum matter. You seem to think that after you die some of your brain’s matter will dissolve into the air and eventually go into some other newborn creature and there will be some bits of you embedded in this new creature. This of course will not happen because there’s nothing special about brain matter, it’s all regular matter, so once the brain dies, everything that’s wonderful and unique about you dies. The matter from your brain may decompose and eventually bits of it will go into creating a new creature, but you as a person will be long dead. All of your matter traces back to other things that died and bits of the Earth and stuff from another star exploding and eventually back to the creation of the universe, so in that sense you have been reincarnated hundreds of times, but I’m sure you don’t remember very much of your very early years. ---
**Author:** ![Question](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ecc23a/32.png) [@Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Question)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quantum-matter-influence-on-normal-matter/221309/15 "2003-12-28T04:57:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Yumblie \* > \*\*The current theory is that dark matter isn’t spread out between individual stars, it’s concentrated outside the galaxy in a large bubble. The only reason we think it’s there is because it has a gravitational influence; we can’t actually see it. > > “Quantum matter” is most likely another psuedoscience buzz term. Quantum refers to the very small, like atoms, protons, neutrons, etc, which make up all matter, so in effect, all matter is quantum matter. > > You seem to think that after you die some of your brain’s matter will dissolve into the air and eventually go into some other newborn creature and there will be some bits of you embedded in this new creature. This of course will not happen because there’s nothing special about brain matter, it’s all regular matter, so once the brain dies, everything that’s wonderful and unique about you dies. The matter from your brain may decompose and eventually bits of it will go into creating a new creature, but you as a person will be long dead. All of your matter traces back to other things that died and bits of the Earth and stuff from another star exploding and eventually back to the creation of the universe, so in that sense you have been reincarnated hundreds of times, but I’m sure you don’t remember very much of your very early years. \*\* right… we as humans are mostly reused matter, that i understand and that is what i am referring to. if dark matter influences normal matter than it could play a part in the formation of synapses and thus have some affect on the creation of long-term memories. ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quantum-matter-influence-on-normal-matter/221309/16 "2003-12-28T05:13:36Z")
\*\* Question \*\* I am not sure what you are missing in the other peoples posts but there is nothing special about “dark matter” we just can’t see it. Imagine you are an astronomer on a not to distant planet and you look to our solar system. You would be able to detect our gravitational forces and you would be able to see us becuase of the light reflected from the sun off the planets. Hence we would be normal matter. If the sun suddenly stopped giving off light you would still be able to detect our gravitation but not be able to see us. Our solar system would then be called “Dark matter” becuase you can’t see it. Dark matter affects us in the exact same way as normal matter but we just can’t see it. Say I am walking on train tracks with my back turned to a train, I never see the train but I die none the less when it hits. At least this is what I gathered from the other posts in this thread I am not sure if what they said was correct. ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Joe\_Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Random)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quantum-matter-influence-on-normal-matter/221309/17 "2003-12-28T05:18:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Question \* > \*\*if dark matter influences normal matter than it could play a part in the formation of synapses and thus have some affect on the creation of long-term memories. \*\* Gravity influences normal matter, but it does not follow that the positions of the planets and stars (and dark matter) affect the creation of memories (e.g. astrology). ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quantum-matter-influence-on-normal-matter/221309/18 "2003-12-28T05:24:55Z")
If you’re looking for an external force that could influence the matter in your brain, dark matter billions of miles away is a pretty poor candidate. Gravity and radiation are much more common here on Earth. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quantum-matter-influence-on-normal-matter/221309/19 "2003-12-28T05:24:56Z")
Sheesh. **Question** , go to the blackboard and write 100 times, Dark matter does **not** influence the brain. And stop listening to **Squink**. He’s just a troublemaker. Dark matter does not influence the brain. Dark matter does not influence the brain. Dark matter does not influence the brain. Dark matter does not influence the brain. Dark matter does not influence the brain. Dark matter does not influence the brain. Dark matter does not influence the brain. Dark matter does not influence the brain. Dark matter does not influence the brain. ---
**Author:** ![Question](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ecc23a/32.png) [@Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Question)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quantum-matter-influence-on-normal-matter/221309/20 "2003-12-28T06:46:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Exapno Mapcase \* > \*\*Sheesh. **Question** , go to the blackboard and write 100 times, Dark matter does **not** influence the brain. And stop listening to **Squink**. He’s just a troublemaker. > > Dark matter does not influence the brain. > Dark matter does not influence the brain. > Dark matter does not influence the brain. > Dark matter does not influence the brain. > Dark matter does not influence the brain. > Dark matter does not influence the brain. > Dark matter does not influence the brain. > Dark matter does not influence the brain. > Dark matter does not influence the brain. \*\* i’m just asking a question… hence my name … nothing should be surprising here … i have more questions … what does science say about how non-normal matter effects normal matter in the physical realm ? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quantum-matter-influence-on-normal-matter/221309.md?page=2)