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Volume 26Hello Gary. I’ve always wondered – does ‘cold’ actually exist as a separate phenomenon/distinct physical entity, or is it just the absence of heat?
Listener question & Gary’s response · Transcript passage
Jesus Chan asks, Hello Gary. I’ve always wondered – does ‘cold’ actually exist as a separate phenomenon/distinct physical entity, or is it just the absence of heat? Could we ever design an instrument to measure ‘cold’ directly, or would it just end up measuring the lack of heat like a thermometer does?
Jesus, you will be pleased to note that you are not the first person to ask this question. In fact, ancient philosophers were asking this same question over 2000 years ago.
The answer to your question is really straightforward. Cold is just the absence of heat. Full stop.
That is why there is an absolute zero, but there isn’t really an absolute hot. There sort of is, but it is a theoretical limit so far beyond what we could measure or experience that, for all practical purposes, is meaningless.
Based on available episode transcripts. Answers are attributed to their original episodes and may contain transcription errors or later-outdated information. Some older volumes have missing source material.