God – What’s the next sample?
Uriel – It’s corn, my Lord. Zea Mays, variety Everta.
God – And what does it require to be created?
Uriel – Well, a pretty standard setting. Fine-structure constant around 1/137. Three neutrino species. Lambda-CDM cosmology in a flat Universe, with w = – 1 and so on. Then we will have galaxies and stars, and on a planet around a certain G2V star…
God – OK, OK. What is this corn good for?
Uriel – If you allow me, I can give you a demonstration.
God – Please, go ahead.
*Pop*
God – What have you done?
Uriel – I popped it.
God – Just like that?
Uriel – Erm, this is not how it will be done, typically. The creatures on that planet, the humans, as they will call themselves, will put corn in a pan or a oven, and then… *pop*.
God – Amazing.
Uriel – Is it, my Lord?
God – Yes. And how will they call this popping thing?
Uriel – Popcorn.
God – Popcorn?
Uriel – You said it.
God – (Smiles) OK, let’s do it.
Uriel – You mean, more pop corn?
God – No, the Universe. The standard setting you were talking about. Let’s do it.
Uriel – Are you sure?
God – How is it? “Let there be light”, no?
Uriel – I guess so.
God – So, LET THERE BE LIGHT!
*Flash*
Uriel – You’ve done it, my lord.
God – Yay me.
Uriel – Now we just have to wait.
God – (Grabs popcorn).
Picture: Andrew Butko. Thanks to 