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Gravity waves 'around the corner'
Nature News ^ | 19 August 2009 | Calla Cofield

Posted on 08/22/2009 10:05:51 PM PDT by neverdem

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To: allmost
It’s clear that both theories are correct in their respect fields.

Every physicist would probably agree with statement.

Einstein did indeed waste many years trying to quantify the gravitational force. Some sort of legacy deal after the photoelectric effect spawned it I guess. The fact is, they are both right.

Einstein could not accept using one set of physical laws when objects were very large or moving near the speed of light and a contradictory set of laws when objects were very small. His search for a unified field theory was not motivated by experimental data. Instead his search had to do with his philosophical assumptions of science. It should be possible to describe the physical universe with one law.

Treating an inherent space-time reaction to matter’s presence with an expansion of physical theories is illogical. Virtual gravitons get grants.

What bothers me in this discussion is when people start using the word "illogical" when its really a matter of disagreement about assumptions. Again assumptions have nothing to do with logic. As for gravitons, I don't know if they exist or not. But if you assume that the basic building blocks of matter are strings, then you will probably conclude that the graviton exists.

As for an expansion of theories, many would say that the presence of relativity and quantum mechanics is an expansion of theories. And the goal is to reconcile these two contradictory theories to just one theory that will describe all physical phenomena, no matter the size or the velocity.

61 posted on 08/25/2009 1:54:32 PM PDT by stripes1776 ("That if gold rust, what shall iron do?" --Chaucer)
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To: stripes1776

That was one helluva non answer.


62 posted on 08/25/2009 1:58:15 PM PDT by allmost
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To: stripes1776

What do you think?


63 posted on 08/25/2009 2:20:31 PM PDT by allmost
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To: allmost
That was one helluva non answer.

If you are content with two mutually incompatible theories in physics. So be it.

64 posted on 08/25/2009 2:33:53 PM PDT by stripes1776 ("That if gold rust, what shall iron do?" --Chaucer)
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To: stripes1776

Gravity is the problem. I have no idea where you get I’m content at. Where do you get that idea from?


65 posted on 08/25/2009 2:43:15 PM PDT by allmost
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To: allmost
Gravity is the problem. I have no idea where you get I’m content at. Where do you get that idea from?

I thought you were saying that the state of physics is fine with 2 mutually incompatible theories. And there is no need to look for a unified theory. Is that your position?

66 posted on 08/25/2009 2:51:41 PM PDT by stripes1776 ("That if gold rust, what shall iron do?" --Chaucer)
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To: stripes1776

They both fail. At the same point.


67 posted on 08/25/2009 2:53:25 PM PDT by allmost
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To: neverdem

Been hearing that for 30 years now.

It’s right up there with nuclear fusion becoming available.

And global warming.


68 posted on 08/25/2009 3:00:21 PM PDT by <1/1,000,000th%
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To: allmost
They both fail. At the same point.

OK. So most physicists today acknowledge there is a problem with relativity and quantum mechanics. The search is on for a better theory. I don't know which theory will win, or even if the winning theory has been proposed yet. It might take a very long time to build a consensus around one theory. But acknowledging the problem is a big step in the right direction.

69 posted on 08/25/2009 3:28:50 PM PDT by stripes1776 ("That if gold rust, what shall iron do?" --Chaucer)
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To: stripes1776

Agreed.


70 posted on 08/25/2009 3:45:30 PM PDT by allmost
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To: neverdem

the problem is carbon


71 posted on 08/25/2009 4:48:29 PM PDT by samtheman
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