Saturday, April 14, 2007
Time Travel Videos
A recent article, You Can't Travel Back in Time, Scientists Say, links to some videos discussing time travel that are worth a look for entertainment purposes:
The article does however cover some real science by discussing one "popular theory for potential time travelers involves something called cosmic strings — narrow tubes of energy stretched across the entire length of the ever-expanding universe. These skinny regions, leftover from the early cosmos, are predicted to contain huge amounts of mass and therefore could warp the space-time around them."
String theory (wiki) is the leading contender seeking to unify the age-old theory of gravity with physical explanations for how very small particles behave. In string theory, elementary particles are not point-like, but instead are more akin to strings. Interest in string theory is driven largely by the hope that it will prove to be a consistent theory of quantum gravity or even a theory of everything. Quantum gravity (wiki) touches upon one of the deepest problems in theoretical physics - harmonizing the theory of general relativity, which describes gravitation and applies to large-scale structures (stars, planets, galaxies), with quantum mechanics, which describes the other three fundamental forces acting on the microscopic scale. The Theory of everything (wiki) enters the relm of religion in that many theists believe the universe operates according to consistent principles designed by a rational and orderly deity.
The article does however cover some real science by discussing one "popular theory for potential time travelers involves something called cosmic strings — narrow tubes of energy stretched across the entire length of the ever-expanding universe. These skinny regions, leftover from the early cosmos, are predicted to contain huge amounts of mass and therefore could warp the space-time around them."
String theory (wiki) is the leading contender seeking to unify the age-old theory of gravity with physical explanations for how very small particles behave. In string theory, elementary particles are not point-like, but instead are more akin to strings. Interest in string theory is driven largely by the hope that it will prove to be a consistent theory of quantum gravity or even a theory of everything. Quantum gravity (wiki) touches upon one of the deepest problems in theoretical physics - harmonizing the theory of general relativity, which describes gravitation and applies to large-scale structures (stars, planets, galaxies), with quantum mechanics, which describes the other three fundamental forces acting on the microscopic scale. The Theory of everything (wiki) enters the relm of religion in that many theists believe the universe operates according to consistent principles designed by a rational and orderly deity.
# posted by xltd @ 4/14/2007 12:35:00 AM 
Post a Comment