Jul 20 2012: I wonder, when the matter in the universe finally all rushes to the event horizon of the universe, will it cause the universe to contract and cause the "big bounce?"
Jul 20 2012: A very interesting approach, although I wonder what the ramifications are ultimately since the photons are ostensibly split before reaching the slit. But I found another article on the subject and offer this excerpt:
'Steinberg stresses that his group's work does not challenge the uncertainty principle, pointing out that the results could, in principle, be predicted with standard quantum mechanics. But, he says, "it is not necessary to interpret the uncertainty principle as rigidly as we are often taught to do", arguing that other interpretations of quantum mechanics, such as the pilot-wave theory, might "help us to think in new ways".
David Deutsch of the University of Oxford, UK, is not convinced that the experiment has told us anything new about how the universe works. He says that although "it's quite cool to see strange predictions verified", the results could have been obtained simply by "calculating them using a computer and the equations of quantum mechanics".
Jul 20 2012: I honestly think anyone who, right now with what we know, tells you they have a definitive answer is either woefully wrong or ..hmm fudging the truth.
There's the "observation makes the wave function collapse" camp and the "the detector causes interference that alters the outcome" camp. The truth is, there's no solid evidence either way. Its one of the most curious and perplexing puzzles in physics.
Given what we know about electrons and their penchant for being in multiple places at the same time, I personally find the "the detector causes interference that alters the outcome" to be too closed minded.
Who knows? Maybe when we do find the answer it will trump any of its predecessors.
Jul 20 2012: Well, first we have to assess what we mean by "work." Do they accomplish the goals of those who imprison people? The key is understanding the goals and they are twofold.
One goal is punishment and, certainly, is the primary goal. You may not feel it should be, nor do I, but it actually is. Does it work as a punishment? Yes. Most inmates kept longterm are evaluated by their psychologists as suffering from a panoply of problems due to incarceration. Its like a kind of slow torture. There are many who will argue they are satisfied by this because they find their crimes so reprehensible and there are others who feel 2 wrongs don't make a right but in the end, if punishment is the goal, it works.
The second goal is keeping them away from society. Given that they are imprisoned, we'd have to concede that goal is satisfied as well.
If the system were run by people who actually wanted to rehabilitate convicts rather than punish them in a chamber of horrors, replete with beatings, rapes and confinement in such small, dim places that a kind of madness must surely ensue, then we'd have to say no, it doesnt work. Convicts exit prisons hardened, unstable, and disturbed. Many have said they learn how to refine their criminal tactics while in a think-tank of crime.
But can we, as a society, seek to rehabilitate rather than punish? Right now, more and more prisons are springing up under private corporations. Its become very profitable to imprison people. And with wealthy corporations owning politicians, there are many more prisoners who will get no hope of exit. I recently saw a film documenting the construction of a "supermax" prison and a lot of thought went into how to construct cells to emotionally harm the occupants. To keep costs down, they chose not to use electric lights but rather natural sunlight -however steps were taken to ensure there were no windows so the prisoner had not even a tiny view of the outside world. The builders were adamant about this, and gleeful.
Jun 30 2012: now apparently red states have banned scientists from using certain words describing, and mathematical methods of determining, rising seal levels and global warming in an attempt to stop them.
You must now call rising sea levels, "recurrent flooding."
its getting out of hand and the media isnt reporting most of it.
Jun 29 2012: Just because someone has a college education does not necessarily mean they are a progressive. I think part of considering yourself progressive is the notion that no one is a lesser human being.
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A comment on Conversation: If the universe is expanding - what is it expanding into?
A comment on Talk: Mark Applebaum: The mad scientist of music
A comment on Conversation: If the universe is expanding - what is it expanding into?
A reply on Conversation: In double slit experiment of Thomas Young, why do electrons (particles) behave like waves when we aren't observing them?
'Steinberg stresses that his group's work does not challenge the uncertainty principle, pointing out that the results could, in principle, be predicted with standard quantum mechanics. But, he says, "it is not necessary to interpret the uncertainty principle as rigidly as we are often taught to do", arguing that other interpretations of quantum mechanics, such as the pilot-wave theory, might "help us to think in new ways".
David Deutsch of the University of Oxford, UK, is not convinced that the experiment has told us anything new about how the universe works. He says that although "it's quite cool to see strange predictions verified", the results could have been obtained simply by "calculating them using a computer and the equations of quantum mechanics".
A comment on Conversation: In double slit experiment of Thomas Young, why do electrons (particles) behave like waves when we aren't observing them?
There's the "observation makes the wave function collapse" camp and the "the detector causes interference that alters the outcome" camp. The truth is, there's no solid evidence either way. Its one of the most curious and perplexing puzzles in physics.
Given what we know about electrons and their penchant for being in multiple places at the same time, I personally find the "the detector causes interference that alters the outcome" to be too closed minded.
Who knows? Maybe when we do find the answer it will trump any of its predecessors.
A comment on Conversation: Does prison work?
One goal is punishment and, certainly, is the primary goal. You may not feel it should be, nor do I, but it actually is. Does it work as a punishment? Yes. Most inmates kept longterm are evaluated by their psychologists as suffering from a panoply of problems due to incarceration. Its like a kind of slow torture. There are many who will argue they are satisfied by this because they find their crimes so reprehensible and there are others who feel 2 wrongs don't make a right but in the end, if punishment is the goal, it works.
The second goal is keeping them away from society. Given that they are imprisoned, we'd have to concede that goal is satisfied as well.
If the system were run by people who actually wanted to rehabilitate convicts rather than punish them in a chamber of horrors, replete with beatings, rapes and confinement in such small, dim places that a kind of madness must surely ensue, then we'd have to say no, it doesnt work. Convicts exit prisons hardened, unstable, and disturbed. Many have said they learn how to refine their criminal tactics while in a think-tank of crime.
But can we, as a society, seek to rehabilitate rather than punish? Right now, more and more prisons are springing up under private corporations. Its become very profitable to imprison people. And with wealthy corporations owning politicians, there are many more prisoners who will get no hope of exit. I recently saw a film documenting the construction of a "supermax" prison and a lot of thought went into how to construct cells to emotionally harm the occupants. To keep costs down, they chose not to use electric lights but rather natural sunlight -however steps were taken to ensure there were no windows so the prisoner had not even a tiny view of the outside world. The builders were adamant about this, and gleeful.
A comment on Conversation: Fill in the Blank - What the World needs now is __________ ?
You must now call rising sea levels, "recurrent flooding."
its getting out of hand and the media isnt reporting most of it.
A comment on Conversation: For such debilitating illnesses what form of society would be better: traditional, poor and rural or advanced and progressive?
A comment on Conversation: Fill in the Blank - What the World needs now is __________ ?
A comment on Conversation: For such debilitating illnesses what form of society would be better: traditional, poor and rural or advanced and progressive?
traditional, aka conservative, would look for an exorcist, shun you, or try to pray the illness away
Progressive society would accept you for your illness and have therapies based on a desire to progress and advance.
I think the answer is clear,