Expert: Philip Stahl - 3/28/2006

Question
Dear Philip,

We are all aware of the science laws which we invented, my question is wheather this laws are applicable throughtout the universe or every galaxy has its own laws which may be different form us. Is the speed of light is same or it differs from place to place in the entire universe.
Thanks in advance

Regards,
Mohan

Answer
Hello.

So far as we can determine, the physical laws forged here on Earth apply throughout the cosmos. For example, the same chemical elements we see in atomic spectra in labs on Earth, is visible in distant star clusters and galaxies. One can see the same atomic "fingerprints" for hydrogen, helium, etc. in galaxies for instance - only that they are displaced  uniformly because of the red shift effect associated with the expansion of the universe.

In addition, we observe motions in galactic clusters that conform to how we would expect gravitational forces to act in respect of very massive objects such as galaxies.

Further, so far as our instruments can determine, the speed of light in vacuo is the same wherever one is in the cosmos. In our vicinity it is 300,000 km/s and far out toward the most distant quasars it is also 300,000 km/s.

Thus, it appears that the laws of the universe are the same wherever one is in the cosmos.