Comments on: Some Radio Science http://asymptotia.com/2006/12/03/some-radio-science/ Sat, 10 Jan 2009 01:25:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Cynthia http://asymptotia.com/2006/12/03/some-radio-science/#comment-7291 Cynthia Thu, 07 Dec 2006 02:10:57 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/12/03/some-radio-science/#comment-7291 Now, I'd like someone to please explain why there's a surge of faster-than-light talks racing through the physics blogosphere. Recently, Lee Smolin remarked that an upcoming gamma ray detector is quite likely to reveal that "the speed of light isn't universal." Smolin's remark - in my opinion - is perhaps what triggered this sharp rise in the number of comments on VSL theories. Now, I’d like someone to please explain why there’s a surge of faster-than-light talks racing through the physics blogosphere. Recently, Lee Smolin remarked that an upcoming gamma ray detector is quite likely to reveal that “the speed of light isn’t universal.” Smolin’s remark - in my opinion - is perhaps what triggered this sharp rise in the number of comments on VSL theories.

]]> By: Stephen Uitti http://asymptotia.com/2006/12/03/some-radio-science/#comment-7259 Stephen Uitti Wed, 06 Dec 2006 22:09:32 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/12/03/some-radio-science/#comment-7259 The trouble with Real Audio (.ram) is that you can't download it to your mp3 player and listen while in the car. Oh, i suppose it's possible. I mean, you could have your computer play it, and have your computer simultaneously digitize the sound and save it. You could probably automate the whole thing. But i have dialup, and it can't sustain real time sound. So, for me, Real Audio is a non-starter. On the other hand, The Royal Society Press Release page is a pretty good summary of science in the news, and with RSS. The trouble with Real Audio (.ram) is that you can’t download it to your mp3 player and listen while in the car. Oh, i suppose it’s possible. I mean, you could have your computer play it, and have your computer simultaneously digitize the sound and save it. You could probably automate the whole thing. But i have dialup, and it can’t sustain real time sound. So, for me, Real Audio is a non-starter.

On the other hand, The Royal Society Press Release page is a pretty good summary of science in the news, and with RSS.

]]> By: Cynthia http://asymptotia.com/2006/12/03/some-radio-science/#comment-7178 Cynthia Wed, 06 Dec 2006 00:00:18 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/12/03/some-radio-science/#comment-7178 Quoting Lee Smolin from Wired Magazine entitled, 'Physics Wars': "Well, every string theory that's been written down says the speed of light is universal. But other ideas about quantum gravity predict the speed of light has actually increased. And an experiment on the Gamma Ray Large Area Space Telescope, launched next year, will check this. So I've said, look, if the speed of light isn't universal, that disconfirms string theory. But the string theorists say they could probably invent versions of the theory that work either way. We'd have to change our notion of what science is to accommodate this proposition. You just can't do science on that basis." Three thoughts emerge from Prof. Smolin's above statement... Thought#1: Recently, there's been a sharp rise in the number of comments on VSL theories appearing across the physics blogosphere. Nonetheless, I'll surmise that Prof. Smolin has sparked this lightning rod of faster-than-light talk across the blogosphere. Thought#2: Prof. Smolin seems fairly confident that a violation in the speed of light limit will be detected following a series of gamma ray burst experiments. Furthermore, he suggests that string theory will essentially die if "light isn't universal." Thought#3: Most damning of all, he remarks that string theorists will resort to some kind of "fudge factoring" or "voodoo physics" if light is proven not to be universal. It's extremely insulting of Prof. Smolin to insinuate that string theorists will simply utilize cook-the-book methods (via some sort of disreputable creative accounting scheme) in order to balance their cosmic books! I'd greatly appreciate anyone's input or output on either Smolin's above statement or my thoughts on his statement. Quoting Lee Smolin from Wired Magazine entitled, ‘Physics Wars’: “Well, every string theory that’s been written down says the speed of light is universal. But other ideas about quantum gravity predict the speed of light has actually increased. And an experiment on the Gamma Ray Large Area Space Telescope, launched next year, will check this. So I’ve said, look, if the speed of light isn’t universal, that disconfirms string theory. But the string theorists say they could probably invent versions of the theory that work either way. We’d have to change our notion of what science is to accommodate this proposition. You just can’t do science on that basis.”

Three thoughts emerge from Prof. Smolin’s above statement…

Thought#1: Recently, there’s been a sharp rise in the number of comments on VSL theories appearing across the physics blogosphere. Nonetheless, I’ll surmise that Prof. Smolin has sparked this lightning rod of faster-than-light talk across the blogosphere.

Thought#2: Prof. Smolin seems fairly confident that a violation in the speed of light limit will be detected following a series of gamma ray burst experiments. Furthermore, he suggests that string theory will essentially die if “light isn’t universal.”

Thought#3: Most damning of all, he remarks that string theorists will resort to some kind of “fudge factoring” or “voodoo physics” if light is proven not to be universal. It’s extremely insulting of Prof. Smolin to insinuate that string theorists will simply utilize cook-the-book methods (via some sort of disreputable creative accounting scheme) in order to balance their cosmic books!

I’d greatly appreciate anyone’s input or output on either Smolin’s above statement or my thoughts on his statement.

]]>