Quote (bentherdonethat @ Feb 3 2011 01:27am)
If we can observe a tree, even if we look away from it, that tree is still there unless something happens to it. That's just object permanence and conservation of matter. As for the sound? Of course a sound is made. Sound is just a longitudinal wave. The tree still creates the sound wave by vibrating the air molecules. Whether we hear it or not, that wave was still created. This whole line of thought is metaphysics and philosophy. While they might be interesting to think about, they don't really have any practical applications.
As for Brian Greene's book, I'll have to look into that some time.
watch the double slit experiement on youtube
i clearly shows that when sub atomic particles are not observed they exist in what is thought to be waves, maybe even mathematical equations that collapse into "reality" when observed.