eli5: Why is it temperatures can go up to the trillions but only down to -273?
In: Physics
In order to reduce the temperature you have to remove heat, there is no such things as coldness in physics, only heat.
Quantum Physics is the answer to why there is such a limit to how cold an object can be. When you get closer to -273 K the movement of molecules reduce drastically. BUT, when you get bellow -272 K you can only reduce their movement so much, because every atom has a fundamental quantum vibration. Without that quantum vibration there would be no such thing as Hidrogen, Helium etc. The identity of these atoms is there thanks to their fundamental quantum vibration. Think of it as a color, you cannot tell that something which is red, is actually red unless they have that proprety. Therefore if you remove the color from that object you wouldnt identify its color. (I really hope I explained it decently well)
Therefore, not being able to completely cancel their vibration, there will always be some heat left.
Short answer: QUANTUM PHYSICS.
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