Here's something to keep in mind when looking at hypotheses from theoretical physicists.
- Theoretical physicists are mostly pretty good mathematicians;
- mathematics is all about idealizations;
- scientific theories are often idealizations;
- zero is the most ideal numeric value.
We don't have the ability to exactly measure the total net energy. Hypotheses such as these are used to generate testable predictions. And then, whether or not those predictions stand up to the tests will be taken as information supporting or contradicting the hypothesis.
In short, hypotheses such as the one you are discussing, is part of how physics works. Non-physicists should sit back and watch, but there's no reason to get all excited or upset about it.
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