The question I've asked multiple times lately. Is the universe math, or math the universe? (Click through for full sized version.) via Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal.
Tag: Physics
Does anyone have a link to a detailed description of the cosmological horizon problem?
So, I'm trying to understand cosmic inflation a bit better, and I've concluded that I don't understand one of the chief itches that it scratches. I know the standard explanation about regions of space being too far apart to have ever interacted, but I don't get why they couldn't have interacted when the universe was … Continue reading Does anyone have a link to a detailed description of the cosmological horizon problem?
Primers on detecting primordial gravity waves and cosmic inflation
First, Minute Physics takes a shot at explaining what the BICEP2 team actually found and how it relates to gravitational waves. I think I'm going to have to watch this a second time to pick up everything. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IlBNJbCzfk And Ethan Siegel has an in-depth discussion of cosmic inflation at his Starts With A Bang site.
When Classical Universes Collide, The Result is Quantum Mechanics, Say Physicists
I shared this on Twitter, but it occurred to me that, although I didn't have any particular comment to make on it, many of my non-Twitter readers might find it interesting. The strange behaviour of the quantum world is direct evidence of the interaction between our universe and many other classical universes, according to a … Continue reading When Classical Universes Collide, The Result is Quantum Mechanics, Say Physicists
Searching for empirical anomalies
Ars Technica has an article about the most accurate measurement yet of the mass of the electron. It was an interesting article, particularly in describing how the scientists went about making the measurement. But I was struck by something said at the end: Physicist know that the Standard Model—great for explaining the world of the … Continue reading Searching for empirical anomalies
PHD Comics: The Higgs Boson Re-Explained
This is a pretty good explanation of the Higgs Boson. (Not that I have the expertise to judge it, but it matches other stuff I've read and seems more accessible.) Click though to see the full size version. via PHD Comics: The Higgs Boson Re-Explained. I'm sure it's a simplistic interpretation, but the picture of all … Continue reading PHD Comics: The Higgs Boson Re-Explained
Using distant quasars to close the “free will” loophole
Given the conversations some of us have had over determinism and the possibility of quantum hidden variables, I thought this was particularly interesting. In a paper published this week in the journal Physical Review Letters, MIT researchers propose an experiment that may close the last major loophole of Bell's inequality—a 50-year-old theorem that, if violated … Continue reading Using distant quasars to close the “free will” loophole
Quantum Entanglement Explained
A nice video. I've read about quantum decoherence and entanglement several times, but seeing it animated helped. At least for me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zD1U1sIPQ4 Confused by how particles can be in two places at once? Wondering how particles can instantly communicate with each other no matter what the distance? Quantum physics is a field of study that … Continue reading Quantum Entanglement Explained
Are Parallel Universes Unscientific Nonsense?
If you’re a multiverse skeptic, you should know that there are many potential weaknesses in the case for parallel universes, and I hope you’ll find my cataloging of these weaknesses below useful. To identify these weaknesses in the pro-multiverse arguments, we first need to review what the arguments are. via Are Parallel Universes Unscientific Nonsense? … Continue reading Are Parallel Universes Unscientific Nonsense?
How fast are you moving? It’s all relative
Er, well, most of it is, as this video explains. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIzvfki5ozU h/t a testament of sentience
SelfAwarePatterns 