Philosophy
One of the most important differences between Newton and Einstein's physics has to do with the nature of space and time. Contrary to Newton, who argued that space and time form an absolute background upon which all physical events take place, Einstein argued that space-time is a dynamic fabric that interacts with and is affected by the mass of objects. Here is a nice and short explanation of the basic difference between the two models, narrated by Brian Greene.
Various experiments have confirmed Einstein's revolutionary view, but there is one major prediction that, at least for the moment, remains theoretical: the existence of gravitational waves. Wouldn't you know it, scientists are hard at work trying to device experiments and instruments capable of potentially detecting these obscure messengers of general relativity, and as you'll see, the precision of these instruments is simply mind-boggling. Welcome to the world of LIGO.
And if you want more on instruments, check out the Large Hadron Collider tag.
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- God, Darwin, And Conservative Kumbaya
In a recent op/ed in The New York Times, Robert Wright offers a "grand bargain" in a bid to arrange a ceasefire in the war between the religious and those who accept evolution. We can form, he argues, a theory completely consistent with evolution by simply...
- Space Is Rico-suave... I Mean Smooth :)
Before you get the wrong idea, the picture to the right shows an artist's rendition of two photons flying through space... not a sperm race :) For the past century, scientists have been hard at work trying to articulate a 'final theory' capable...
- Einstein & Religion...an Easter Offering
Just an offering during this movable feast...an article by M. Barone... Abstract: While Special and General Relativity are well known by a very large number of people, Einstein's religious convictions are almost ignored. The paper focuses on what...
- "another Einstein?" Poll
Will there ever be an iconic figure like Einstein again? Yes...6 No...1 Perhaps...3 Hard to predict, but I doubt it. Einstein was historically in the right place at the right time. Einstein was part of the Classical Age of Physics, explained a far reaching...
- Einstein Train...rusted And Retired
Most unusual. The photo would make good for wallpaper or even a poster. From Physics Central: A train that describes how one might travel through spacetime was discovered in the Bolivian desert by a physics teacher. The old locomotive itself must have...
Philosophy
Gravitational Waves - Einstein's Messengers
One of the most important differences between Newton and Einstein's physics has to do with the nature of space and time. Contrary to Newton, who argued that space and time form an absolute background upon which all physical events take place, Einstein argued that space-time is a dynamic fabric that interacts with and is affected by the mass of objects. Here is a nice and short explanation of the basic difference between the two models, narrated by Brian Greene.Various experiments have confirmed Einstein's revolutionary view, but there is one major prediction that, at least for the moment, remains theoretical: the existence of gravitational waves. Wouldn't you know it, scientists are hard at work trying to device experiments and instruments capable of potentially detecting these obscure messengers of general relativity, and as you'll see, the precision of these instruments is simply mind-boggling. Welcome to the world of LIGO.
And if you want more on instruments, check out the Large Hadron Collider tag.
.
- God, Darwin, And Conservative Kumbaya
In a recent op/ed in The New York Times, Robert Wright offers a "grand bargain" in a bid to arrange a ceasefire in the war between the religious and those who accept evolution. We can form, he argues, a theory completely consistent with evolution by simply...
- Space Is Rico-suave... I Mean Smooth :)
Before you get the wrong idea, the picture to the right shows an artist's rendition of two photons flying through space... not a sperm race :) For the past century, scientists have been hard at work trying to articulate a 'final theory' capable...
- Einstein & Religion...an Easter Offering
Just an offering during this movable feast...an article by M. Barone... Abstract: While Special and General Relativity are well known by a very large number of people, Einstein's religious convictions are almost ignored. The paper focuses on what...
- "another Einstein?" Poll
Will there ever be an iconic figure like Einstein again? Yes...6 No...1 Perhaps...3 Hard to predict, but I doubt it. Einstein was historically in the right place at the right time. Einstein was part of the Classical Age of Physics, explained a far reaching...
- Einstein Train...rusted And Retired
Most unusual. The photo would make good for wallpaper or even a poster. From Physics Central: A train that describes how one might travel through spacetime was discovered in the Bolivian desert by a physics teacher. The old locomotive itself must have...