Crisis on Infinite Earths

Entropy is a concept notoriously difficult for physics students to grasp. I think the main reason is that the word entropy itself, used in popular culture, tends to convey excitement and chaos. But the state of thermal equilibrium - the Second Law of Thermodynamics - that coincides with maximum entropy is dull and static. The Big Bang is the universe, or our universe at least, at it's lowest levels of entropy, and we are accelerating to higher and higher rates as time moves on. However, modern astrophysics and cosmology has been taking the study of universal entropy to astounding and fascinating lengths. Concepts such as multiple universes and the arrow of time are getting an increasing amount of play in the academic literature. The media, playing the role of a Renaissance era ignoramus theologian, covers these developments with a haughty and dismissive giggle - check out this recent NYT article. Whether the concepts covered prove true or not, it is worrisome when the Big Brother media spews disdain at people who collect PhDs like comic books. That's what academic journals are for! Since most of my knowledge of entropy comes from being a Thomas Pynchon disciple as opposed to university, interested parties should peep this article for enlightenment. Sometimes I think I am a Boltzmann Brain.