A slightly different point of view on the mathematical universe, as only Zach Weiner can deliver. (Click through to see the full sized version.) via Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal.
Month: April 2014
Max Tegmark posts his chapter on cosmic inflation online
If you enjoyed my write up on Tegmark's Level II multiverse, you might enjoy this guest post that he makes on Sean Carroll's blog, which includes a link to the chapter on inflation from his book, including those visual aids I referenced! Since the BICEP2 breakthrough is generating such huge interest in inflation, I’ve decided … Continue reading Max Tegmark posts his chapter on cosmic inflation online
Ugh, really Americans? Poll reveals majority of Americans distrust Big Bang theory
In a new national poll on America's scientific acumen, more than half of respondents said they were "not too confident" or "not at all confident" that "the universe began 13.8 billion years ago with a big bang." via Poll reveals majority of Americans distrust Big Bang theory - UPI.com.
Tegmark’s Mathematical Universe Hypothesis
I recently read Max Tegmark’s latest book, ‘Our Mathematical Universe‘, about his views on multiverses and the ultimate nature of reality. This is the fourth and final post in a series on the concepts and views he covers in the book. The previous entries were: Tegmark’s Level I Multiverse: infinite space Tegmark’s Level II Multiverse: bubble universes … Continue reading Tegmark’s Mathematical Universe Hypothesis
Is Philosophy Obsolete? – The Chronicle Review
Rebecca Goldstein appears to be on a campaign to defend philosophy. In this essay, she defends its ability to make progress, and questions whether it should be lumped in with the humanities. (I wonder what the humanities folks will think of that.) Philosophy was the first academic field; the founder of the Academy was Plato. … Continue reading Is Philosophy Obsolete? – The Chronicle Review
Neil deGrasse Tyson in ‘The Inexplicable Universe’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cgo1uObQ3Js If you're enjoying the Cosmos series, you might enjoy these lectures by Neil deGrasse Tyson, which I discovered yesterday is now on Netflix. The lectures are fairly far ranging covering things like string theory, dark matter, dark energy, gravitational anomalies, and many other things. If you're well read in science, a lot of this might … Continue reading Neil deGrasse Tyson in ‘The Inexplicable Universe’
The flower-shaped starshade that might help us detect Earth-like planets
Pretty cool. Jeremy Kasdin in this TED talk discusses an idea to remove the glare of a star's light in order to possibly get a look at its planets. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYNUpQrZISc
First potentially habitable Earth-sized planet confirmed by Gemini and Keck observatories — ScienceDaily
This is a pretty big milestone. The first Earth sized planet in a star's habitable zone. Pity it's so far away (500 light years) that spectral analysis probably won't be possible to figure out what its atmosphere has in it. The first Earth-sized exoplanet orbiting within the habitable zone of another star has been confirmed … Continue reading First potentially habitable Earth-sized planet confirmed by Gemini and Keck observatories — ScienceDaily
The Sniper – Existential Comics
The profound thoughts of a sniper. Click through to read the whole thing. via The Sniper - Existential Comics.
Neanderthals and Cro-magnons did not coexist on the Iberian Peninsula, suggests re-analysis of dating — ScienceDaily
The meeting between a Neanderthal and one of the first humans, which we used to picture in our minds, did not happen on the Iberian Peninsula. That is the conclusion reached by an scientists after redoing the dating of the remains in three caves located on the route through the Pyrenees of the first beings … Continue reading Neanderthals and Cro-magnons did not coexist on the Iberian Peninsula, suggests re-analysis of dating — ScienceDaily
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