Liquid Space

New Scientist ^ | 03 November 2001 | Paul Davies

[pistola]

IS SPACE just space? Or is it filled with some sort of mysterious, intangible substance? The ancient Greeks believed so, and so did scientists in the 19th century. Yet by the early part of the 20th century, the idea had been discredited and seemed to have gone for good.

[Fiddlstix]

Bump
To read later

[widgysoft]

now we gotta worry about Species 8472.

[billbears]

later bump

[Puddleglum]

bump

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

OFFICIAL BUMP(TOPIC)LIST

[Asclepius]

... In effect, the stretching of space jiggles up some of the virtual particles and turns them into real particles ...

Yes. I've seen this happen in my seltzer water.

Akasha. Astral light. Ether. Nearly every esoteric tradition believes in some sort of proto-matter or not-quite-matter that suffuses the whole universe, every once in a while plunging itself into the grosser densities--that is to say, our world. In the Egyptian book of the dead the ether or the astral light has a distinctly dual character, with the Gods dwelling above in the rarified ethers; empty shells and ghost-forms and lost souls and abortions-of-darkness descending of their own weight to the grosser levels, i.e. our level, to taunt and torment us etc.

At last, physics is catching up with our Chaldean and Egyptian and Indus river valley forebears.

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

It's true. The more we know, the more we know we don't know.

[glorgau]

So in theory, an atom dropped down the exact centre of a vertical metal pipe should reach a terminal velocity as it ploughs through the viscous quantum vacuum, just like a ball bearing dropped into oil.

Perhaps this is where the constant c (the speed of light) arises. I don't have the spare time to do the ciphering (as Jethro Bodine would say) at the moment... :-)

[Kevin Curry]

Interesting post. What is the Kaballist view? Do you know?

[elbucko]

REALLY interesting post.
Thanks, Buck.

[kulot]

Perhaps another case of a scientific fact becoming known to be true long after stated by a religious leader.

One of those was by Muhammad who referred to the sun being the center of the solar system, even though Muslims denounced this until it was scientifically proven about a thousand years later.

The existence of ether in "space" was stated by Abdul Baha (of the Bahai's) about 100 years ago.

If folks used religion to open their eyes instead of close them, life on earth would be a whole lot sweeter.

[elbucko]

Perhaps this is where the constant c (the speed of light) arises.

Perhaps. It is certainly provocative toward this kind of (theoretical) conclusion.

[ConvictHitlery]

My calculations show that there is mistake here.

Time machines and endless energy

COULD we tap the quantum ether as a power source? The first consideration is how much energy it contains. Calculating it using quantum field theory, you get an enormous energy density-about 10110 joules per cubic centimetre ...

The figure should be 10E110 Joules, or 10^110.

[elbucko]

If folks used religion to open their eyes instead of close them,...

Why don't don't you go preach in the "RELIGION" section. This article is discussing theoretical physics and philosophical possibilities. Not scripture.

BTW, I don't see where Mohammed made life "a whole lot sweeter"!

[Asclepius]

... Interesting post. What is the Kaballist view? Do you know? ...

Caballists are into the notion of the astral light too, corresponding to kether on the tree of life (right above and touching the crown of your head, activated by vibrating or intoning the supreme God-name Yod-Hey-Vau-Hey). A simple, practical means of connecting with the astral is the so-called "middle pillar exercise" of both the Caballists and Golden Dawn traditions (you can find many variations of same on the Web). Israel Regardie writes a lot about the middle pillar etc.

[Physicist]

Some of the ideas that fell from favour are creeping back into modern thought, giving rise to the notion of a quantum ether.

Disingenuous. The quantum field is nothing like the "luminiferous ether". There's no implication of a preferred inertial reference frame, no notion of absolute velocity.

It's not clear, at least in this article, how Davies' ideas are any different from those of Feynman and Dirac. Leave it to The New Scientist to deliver the hype.

[kulot]

Just providing my point of view. The truth can be derived from both religion and science; further, religion can provide some advanced scientific insight. Regarding Muhammad making life sweeter, Arabia just before Muhammad was one of the lowest places on earth. The civilication progressed rapidly thereafter. It's all about historical context.

Good day.
Preaching off.

A scientist.

[lds23]

You might enjoy reading "The Dancing Wu Li Masters".

The joy and awe of religious discovery are akin to those of physics.

[lds23]

Just saw an interesting movie called "Donnie Darko".

Among other things, there's a theme around the multiple pathways through space/time and how they connect through wormholes.

Maybe not directly apropos to your post, but thought the folks on this thread might find it an interesting flick.