# What is the ultimate fates, and in what order, for the atoms of my body? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 18, 2011, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-ultimate-fates-and-in-what-order-for-the-atoms-of-my-body/600010 "2011-10-18T04:30:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-ultimate-fates-and-in-what-order-for-the-atoms-of-my-body/600010/41 "2011-10-27T21:02:51Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > The answer to that question is something we have no way of knowing. If the particles in question are fermions, the only change would be a switch in the absolute phase of the wavefunction, but that’s not observable. If they’re bosons, there isn’t even that change. Thanks for the answer, even though I don’t know what a switch in absolute phase is, and why it is unobservable. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Moris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moris/32/2846_2.png) [@Moris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moris)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-ultimate-fates-and-in-what-order-for-the-atoms-of-my-body/600010/42 "2011-10-28T10:51:07Z")
Hey guys my first post here so don’t be too harsh. More I’m thinking of it, more stupid it seems, but oh well. This topic really made me thinking. But here’s a reversed idea: What are the chances that some of the particles in observale universe floating aimlessly could end up producing an identical copy of myself (or anybody else for that matter)? There are 3×10^79 atoms in the universe (a lower limit estimation). So the chances are 1:…factorial of that number? Or much lower since I most likely forgot to include countless other parameters? I think I feel dizzy. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2011, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-ultimate-fates-and-in-what-order-for-the-atoms-of-my-body/600010/43 "2011-10-29T22:52:45Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > I wish I understood all of this better. It’s mostly Greek to me. But fascinating, none the less. > > I grew up with religion, not science. I had no idea until recently, just how much I bought into the nonsense that I now consider the bible to be. So, now at the ripe old age of 55, I find myself having to learn what will really happen. And what did happen. How’d this all get started. I mean, I have heard of the big bang of course and I know about evolution, though not as much as I’d like. > > I want someone to tell me a story like the bible did. Only with facts instead of junk. And one that is more easily understood than the bible. One with fewer ( a lot fewer) contradictions and more, what? Truth? I don’t know. I just know that I need to learn a whole new beginning and ending and stories are a great way to learn. Anyone know of such a book? > > Is there a Scientific bible for dummies? Is this the sort of thing you are looking for? > **[Looking for a children's book on evolution](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=608142)** > > My daughter, age 7.5 (entering 2nd grade in the fall), has been really interested in earth history lately. What book on how life on earth has evolved that you would recommend for her age? ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2011, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-ultimate-fates-and-in-what-order-for-the-atoms-of-my-body/600010/44 "2011-10-29T23:57:15Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > Is this the sort of thing you are looking for? > [Looking for a children's book on evolution - Cafe Society - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=608142) Thank you. Yes, I think something like that just might be what I’m looking for. I’ll just have to pretend it’s for my grandchild. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-ultimate-fates-and-in-what-order-for-the-atoms-of-my-body/600010.md?page=2)