To Whom It May Concern: Future Quotes Finale by zoid

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

To Whom It May Concern: Future Quotes Finale

POSTED BY: ZOID
UPDATED: Saturday, June 19, 2004 20:50
SHORT URL:
VIEWED: 12311
PAGE 2 of 2

Saturday, June 19, 2004 10:27 AM

THEREALME:

Well, without unduly rattling the cages of scientists lurking hereabouts (I've done that before and gotten badly singed for my trouble), I will say that one of the hot topics in science today is a search for the equations describing gravitation and gravity from a quantum mechanical (QM) standpoint. So-called 'Quantum Gravity' may be described as the current Holy Grail of science, and would unite QM and Relativity (GR) for the first time.

My point is that there is currently a concerted effort to formulate the equations that describe gravity. It appears 'do-able', if difficult; and there's some disagreement within that community on which of several approaches to the problem is best. But if they ever do come up with a 'God's Equation' and once and for all unite the realm of the very small (QM) with the realm of the very large (GR), the very fabric of human technology and society could start changing rapidly thereafter.

As with QM and the development of microcircuitry, the governing equations are always the first step leading to practical applications, and might likewise conform to Moore's Law...

Respectfully,

zoid

P.S.
I'm personally betting on an n-dimensional strings/loops/branes solution, since there is apparently a disjoint between the fundamental bases of QM and GR in 3-space+Time. There, I've gone and done it again...
_________________________________________________

"Burn the land and boil the sea, you can't take the sky from me." The Ballad of Serenity

Only 306 days, 8 hours, 39 minutes, and 44 seconds left until The BDM!

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Saturday, June 19, 2004 8:50 PM

THEREALME

Zoid,

I consider myself very knowledgeable about science, but I'm afraid you probably have me by an order of magnitude.

For the purposes of the science fiction for this show, I was speculating that to influence or move planetary bodies (or even sub-planetary bodies) was WAY beyond the tech that could move ships or provide artificial gravity for them.

But who is to say that my idea of an upper limit is any better or worse than yours?

But if you are correct, and furthermore this leads to the ability to toss planets around at whim, then the other changes that would fall out of this breakthrough would make the 'verse incomprehensible to the likes of us, I think.

It would be like dropping a Neanderthal into the middle of downtown New York City (or LA, or London, or Sydney if you'd rather).

It is cool that such theories are being worked. I didn't know anything beyond the idea that combining Einstein and Quantum Mechanics was the Holy Grail of physicists these days. Didn't know they had a lead.

The Real Me

Got Mudder's Milk?

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

YOUR OPTIONS

SHARE THREAD

NEW POSTS TODAY

USER	POST DATE

USER

POST DATE