The Imponderable Question Thread

degsy · July 13, 2016

chrismpw said:
That's cos they keep changing their theories. As far as I see physics (speaking as a chemistry teacher / geologist) - every time someone comes up with data that puts Einstein's ideas into doubt, the physicists run away to their slide rules and try to make the maths work. Adding another (imaginary) dimension to the universe does the trick mathematically, but that then means they have to install fudge factors, which normally involves changing the universe's mass, or rate of expansion, its age, or the existence of other, new particles. I think we're currently up to .... what ... 16 dimensions by some reckoning.

I tease my physics colleagues by referring to the subject as "mathematics and make-believe."

Bosonic string theory suggests 26...up to now.

chrismpw · July 13, 2016

degsy said:
Bosonic string theory suggests 26...up to now.

26? Sake. It's hard enough doing the wallpapering in three dimensions.

On the basis that I don't like the idea that you can't go faster than light (it limits our exploration of the universe), and much that I respect his achievements, I really hope that Einstein's ideas get superseded and he's found to be wrong.

degsy · July 13, 2016

chrismpw said:
26? Sake. It's hard enough doing the wallpapering in three dimensions.

On the basis that I don't like the idea that you can't go faster than light (it limits our exploration of the universe), and much that I respect his achievements, I really hope that Einstein's ideas get superseded and he's found to be wrong.

'FTL' easy peasy.

If its 28 light years to a star as the space ship flies, you just cut the corner...that's the hard part, but when you find a way to do it, eg get there quicker than 28yrs, you've gone 'Faster than light'

That's the theory, just waiting for the engineering to catch up...*taps foot, looks at watch in impatient manner

Philw · July 13, 2016

glorydaze said:
When the Big Bang happened what exactly exploded?

summerisle said:
I've watched innumerable programmes about the Big Bang, and I always lose the smidgeon of understanding I had gleaned when some American professor from UCLA appears in front of a blackboard.

chrismpw said:
That's cos they keep changing their theories. As far as I see physics (speaking as a chemistry teacher / geologist) - every time someone comes up with data that puts Einstein's ideas into doubt, the physicists run away to their slide rules and try to make the maths work. Adding another (imaginary) dimension to the universe does the trick mathematically, but that then means they have to install fudge factors, which normally involves changing the universe's mass, or rate of expansion, its age, or the existence of other, new particles. I think we're currently up to .... what ... 16 dimensions by some reckoning.

I tease my physics colleagues by referring to the subject as "mathematics and make-believe."

Yeah, I don't believe in the Big Bang Theory personally. It's actually less believable than the bible imo.

Whistlin' Dixie · July 13, 2016

If you're travelling at 1mph faster than speed of light in a vehicle, and you switch the headlights on, what'll happen?

AndyC · July 13, 2016

A lad I was at school with many, many moons ago was troubled by the question of whether the Queen wipes her own rear end.
His theory was there had to be either a machine or a fella with his hand in a big rubber glove poking through a hole in the wall, ready to swipe away the remnants of the royal dump.
He was definitely a strange one.

monty · July 13, 2016

You

Whistlin' Dixie said:
If you're travelling at 1mph faster than speed of light in a vehicle, and you switch the headlights on, what'll happen?

You'd wake up to find the wife going to the toilet.

monty · July 13, 2016

AndyC said:
A lad I was at school with many, many moons ago was troubled by the question of whether the Queen wipes her own rear end.
His theory was there had to be either a machine or a fella with his hand in a big rubber glove poking through a hole in the wall, ready to swipe away the remnants of the royal dump.
He was definitely a strange one.

There was a position in court as The Keeper of the Royal stool, bum wiper and interpreted the monarchs health from its colour, consistency and odour. It seems that roll gave rise to the anus licker jibe.

chrismpw · July 13, 2016

glorydaze said:
When the Big Bang happened what exactly exploded?

Nobody ever seem to address this. I like to think it may be the rebound of a previously gravitatioonally collapsing universe ..... but where did THAT universe come from?