A cat is up a tree that falls in the wood...

Anyway, I was having a shower, and thinking - which happens quiet a lot. Actually, most ideas for proper articles I have either happen when I'm walking through town, or in an exam, or in the shower. Really, its quiet obscure. Regardless, back to the point.

You can also say that "No, it doesn't make a sound, per say, because a sound is only a sound when it has been heard, before that, it is only sound waves and vibrations". A technicality of course, and really, that is what I deal with in spades, but still valid - kinda. The downside to this idea is - well, its crap. It is still saying yes, and really, it doesn't matter how you say it, or what technicalities you claim, you are still claiming it makes a sound.

However, this is an important stepping stone.

Anyone who understood the title, will already know what I am going to say next, and the previous sentace will have cemented the idea in your mind.

The important technicality of the "Yes, but only vibrations" is that it has to be observed, and hay presto, we have it.

The next bit I'll let The Big Bang Theory explain.

Just listen to the first 20 - or so - seconds.

There are advanced quantum theories that take this to the next level. In short, they state that if something is not being observed - it is in a state of flux - it simply cannot exist. Or rather, it both does exist, and doesn't exist - until it is observed. The beauty of this is two-fold. Firstly; if you can see something it must exist. Second; you can't observe something that doesn't exist. On a slightly different note, this is what most religions aim for when telling science to disprove god - it is a logical paradox to prove that something doesn't exist. "What's green and invisible? This Lettuce".

Anyway, by applying this theory, the tree would thus be in a state of flux, and it would both make - and not make - a noise, as any noise it did - or didn't - make would too be in a state of flux, as would the ground it may - or may not - of hit, etc etc etc.

What makes this - to me at least - more than just a cool little piece of science, is the fact that "the question" was thought of God knows how long ago, but someone - I can assume quiet faithfully - had no knowledge of advanced Quantum physics, still managed to think up a riddle that will still be plagueing mankind - and fuck with our heads - X many years later.

Now, go watch the Matrix, and realise that "all matter is just energy condensed to a slow vibration, that we are all one consciousness experiencing itself subjectively, there is no such thing as death, life is only a dream and we are the imagination of ourselves."

Scuzzmonkey.