Good evening ladies and gentlemen, welcome to SDA Late Nite Radio. Tonight, for your delectation and pursuant to our Saturday night distinguished lecture, documentary & interview series, here is Kim Greist, professor of physics at the University of California at San Diego, presenting his talk The Mystery of Empty Space (42:54, 2002 I'm guessing).
In last week's show we started this series with a look at existence on the largest scale. On the other hand, what is the smallest scale that pervades all things, including emptiness itself? In tonight's talk, Kim takes a look at what exists in nothing: introducing particle physics, the standard model, and the fascinating notion that the ten dimensions of string theory are related to the standard three dimensions of space, multiplied by the three generations of quarks, plus time.
And here's a quick heads-up for those who may be concerned that the SDA LNR distinguished lecture, documentary & interview series is going to be a long sequence of (admittedly, so far) rather difficult physics professors: despair not, for next week we'll put last week's and this week's shows together with a not-at-all-difficult physics professor to produce humans and epistemology, after which we can expect physics professors to show up rather more rarely. But I gotta' start somewhere !-)
Your Reader Tips are, as always, welcome in the comments.
Vit...you have a great sense of timing and humour! I just have to ask: anything suggested by the title "the Mystery of Empty Space"?
I have been involved in a discussion at 'Blue Like You' about all the 'nothingness' in whatever Iggy is trying to say, and then we have to deal with Obamagasms the week.
Related?
Sometimes empty space is just empty space.
So You Want to Boycott Israel?
Go ahead, here's what you'll be missing out on.
Not to hijack this topic as this is peripherally related.
http://www.cracked.com/blog/5-scientific-theories-head-explode/
Your agent here has been thinking lately, which activity seems to be very, very dangerous at times.
Anyway is there a search for them others in the vast universe that communicate in other than radio frequencies. Something like akin in sense to fiber optics way?
What other means of communication are there?
Now don’t be silly and say they are not going to throw a fiber cable all the way here.
Vit
I'm a proponent of the string theory.
That said.......What you are offering works on many levels.
Syncro
Okay, I know that this is completely unimportant in the real world by some friends of mine in Langley, BC are about to smash a Guinness World Record set by Germans in Sept. 2006. You can read all about it here.
Go Canadians, Go!!!
You tube has some great clips on quantum physics and the double slit experiment and electron entanglement.
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=DfPeprQ7oGc
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=G5poD3nXdJ8&feature=related
More physics links
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/elegant/
Theory: What a village idiot claims he knows, when he has hopelessly lost his way
Like most theory.. String theory depends on the “wave” contractions of the sphincter muscle in ones anus.
I, for one, greatly appreciated this lecture. Please let us not forget that it was the US's Democrat party that canceled the Waxahatchie Texas superconducting supercollider - a project started by Ronald Reagan. Science must rely on the only horse in the race now - the Euro weenie LHC, which as we know, they managed to, uh, break .... just as it was first being fired up. This lecture's stated 5 year wait will now stretch to 8, 9 who knows how many years. The party of Hope of Change.....yeah, right.
I, for one, am damn more concerned about experimentally pushing the limits of supersymmetry and string theory than I am about "Universal Health Care", global warming and other such fear based, deafeatist, vote buying lefty twaddle.
See ya' at the Pro-Israeli Rally at Dundas Square this afternoon!
Next year, Jerusalem!
Scratch a 'Moderate' Muslim:
"British Muslim civil servant suspended over 'killing British troops is justified' blog"
(dailymail.co.uk)
A senior Muslim civil servant has launched an astonishing verbal onslaught against the Government over its response to Israel’s military strikes in Gaza – and has suggested that killing British troops in Iraq is justified.
Treasury official Azad Ali, president of the Civil Service Islamic Society, now faces the sack over the remarks.
Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O’Donnell – who is the patron of the society – acted immediately after being alerted to the comments by The Mail on Sunday.
Shortly after this newspaper contacted the Cabinet Office, a senior official disclosed that Mr Ali had been suspended for the remarks made on his personal internet blog.
In it he:
Quotes an Islamic extremist who says it is his ‘obligation’ to kill British and American soldiers in Iraq;
Accuses the Government of failing to condemn the ‘Zionist terrorist state of Israel’; and
Attacks moderate British Muslims as ‘self-serving vultures, feeding on the dead flesh of the Palestinians’.
The Treasury lists Mr Ali’s title as ‘Business Partner’. He is understood to work as an IT administrator.
(An example of Taqiyya):
On the Civil Service Islamic Society’s official website, Mr Ali declares that it is bound by strict rules that say Whitehall special-interest groups must be ‘non-partisan and non-political’ and act with ‘honesty, impartiality and integrity’.
But there is no such restraint on his personal blog, which highlights his civil service role and provides a link to its Whitehall website.
Until his internet outburst, Mr Ali was regarded as a moderate Muslim who could help tackle Islamic fanaticism in Britain.
(Such a good Muslim. Lets put him in sensitive security positions):
As a former chairman of the influential Muslim Safety Forum and the current head of its counter-terrorism work-team, he works with the Home Office, senior police officers and the Security Services trying to combat extremism.
He is also on the board of London CrimeStoppers and sits on the Metropolitan Police’s Strategic Stop & Search Committee and Police Use of Firearms Group.
(And let him coverup domestic Muslim violence):
Mr Ali is a member of the Independent Police Complaints Commission’s Community Advisory Group and the Home Office’s Trust and Confidence Community Panel.
There are few people with a higher profile within the ‘moderate’ Muslim community. He is a trustee of the East London Mosque & London Muslim Centre. He chairs the Muslim Council of Britain’s membership committee and is a member of its central working committee.
....................
Integration does not work. Muslims are part of the nation of Islam only. The Ummah. Far too many are here as subversive, enemy agents, committed to the destruction of the west and replacing it with their own barbaric culture.
The "not all Muslims..." meme may be true. But to what extent? Who knows which is which? Who knows when a 'Moderate' will be activated by the more pious and observant citing the commands of their god and prophet?
Are we willing to continually compound that risk by allowing more Muslim immigration? And worse, lay terror, violence and subjugation by imported savage idealogues on the generations to come?
They're just getting started. Are we?
vitruvius - my focus is on the nature of Time, and I suggest that Time doesn't operate in one mode, the one which we normally perceive as Newtonian, Kantian, i.e., the click, click unilinear one way discrete process that measures 'this matter/energy' against its own unchanging reference.
That's Perfect Time, which is a processing of matter which requires particularization, or matter operating in relatively discrete form, with the interaction with this matter from the Observer status. You can see this particle as discrete. You experience that matter as limited.
What about Present Time, which is a processing of matter without an Observer, and therefore without particularization into Thisness (haecceity). It takes place only within matter and has no boundaries, and therefore time moulds matter in this form as only an unlimited experience.
And there's Progressive Time, which is even stranger, for it processes matter only within the general structures of patterns-of-organization. It focuses only on the patterns-of-organization and not on matter itself! Therefore as a pattern it doesn't exist only in ONE discrete form of matter but in MANY forms of matter. It's the pattern of organization of a molecule for example.
It doesn't exist on its own but only when linked to individual forms of matter. But it is real; it exists.
Three ways that time moulds matter. Makes things interesting.
(Via SWJ) Richard Halloran, Admiral takes new tack with intel position
When Adm. Dennis C. Blair was in China as commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific, a Chinese admiral confronted him rather aggressively on the issue of Taiwan, warning the United States not to interfere in China's campaign to gain control of the self-governing island.
Admiral Blair listened for a minute, then said: "Admiral, let me tell you a couple of things. First, I own the water out there," gesturing toward the Pacific Ocean. "And second, I own the sky over the water out there. Now, don't you think we should talk about something more constructive?"
The anecdote, confirmed by Adm. Blair, illustrates the sort of plain speaking that characterizes the man President-elect Barack Obama has nominated to be the nation's top intelligence officer...
(Via SWJ; WaPo warning) Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, Afghanistan: We Can Do Better
It has been seven years since Afghan forces supported by the United States toppled the Taliban and denied al-Qaeda the terrorist haven, training ground and launch pad that Afghanistan had become. Since then, there has been clear, substantial progress, including democratic elections, the liberation of growing numbers of Afghan women to take their place in public life, and clear improvements in health care and education.
But an honest assessment of Afghanistan must conclude that we are not where we might have hoped to be by now...
As I was pondering the works of Andrew Wyeth yesterday, my mind wandered to this series of Early Jazz Greats. They're by Robert Crumb -- he of "Stoned Agin" -- but you'd never know it from the style. Some of you may enjoy them.
Rani Sneh and Ashley Drexler, UAVs Are One Step Ahead in Gaza
...“When the forces enter and cross the border, the UAV flies 500 meters in front of them, clearing the area. We guide them and give them advice regarding a safe point of entrance, what is risky and what is not.” Additionally, the UAV team collects intelligence information. A new task that has recently been implemented is the management of coordination and communication, which includes monitoring humanitarian efforts during the hours of a ceasefire. “If wounded people are being evacuated, we escort them and check that everything is okay; if they ask how many blockades there are on the route that they’re taking to seek medical care, we give them a response within a few minutes.”...
Higgs field. sounds like the old concept of ether
but add on 6 more dimensions.
UK Left Guardian declares O as "President" without swearing.
The AGW/O insanity continues.
...-
"Barack Obama has only four years to save the world. That is the stark assessment of Nasa scientist and leading climate expert Jim Hansen"
"President 'has four years to save Earth'"
"US must take the lead to avert eco-disaster"
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jan/18/jim-hansen-obama
...-
"Meanwhile: "brave the cold". "The heat won."
"As the president-elect's train slowly rolls from Philadelphia to Washington, crowds at every station brave the cold to cheer with hope"
"It was a day on which the political heat unleashed by the Obama phenomenon collided with bone-chilling sub-zero temperatures along America's eastern coast. The heat won."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/18/barack-obama-inauguration
When i was doing ug physics ~ 40 years ago, we were often buried in the detailed aspects we were covering. In those days books like B. Hoffmann's 'Strange Story of the Quantum' and G. Gamow's '123 Infinity' allow us to see the overall architecture of fundamental physices current then. Greist's lecture has given me in the same way an insight into inflation and the Higgs particle and how they figure in the picture current now. I am going to enjoy the rest of your physics series and perhaps at the end I will be better able to appreciate Lubos Motl's articles
"Now, I'm wondering if SDA's being asked if it's OK for some of its posts to be archived."
batb asks a most inconvenient question.
Which posts would Big Nanny/Brother archive from SDA?
O has already been taken.
P is open to debate.
A is not # 1.
""Mr Dion: Your car is ready."" is passe.
Reader Tips is so palin vanilla.
...-
"Library and Archives Canada -- Blogs and History"
http://stevejanke.com/archives/281268.php
This post on "The Mystery of Empty Space" was just awesome Vitruvius.
Thanks you.
Enjoyed the lecture Vitruvius. Most grateful for your contributions to Kate's blog.
Scale is such a fascinating subject, and one of the loveliest things I've ever seen illustrating it is here: http://www.nikon.com/about/feelnikon/universcale/index.htm
Back from Support Israel Rally in Toronto.
More later. Over 1000 people and no sign of Hamas or Hezbollah.
For the "Not Waiting for the Asteroid" file:
The following G&M story is hilarious:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090116.wcokedrosky16/BNStory/crashandrecovery/home
The author slips a digit on his calculator, and claims that a 7% savings rate on a $13+ trillion US economy will generate $9 trillion in savings. Bad enough on the author, but the G&M ROB editors apparently don't bother to proof read, fact check, or edit the articles they post.
The editors get shredded in the comments.
Here's a story that Montreal is set to outlaw 'masked protestors' at rallies. I think that's a good ruling, for one ought to have the courage of one's convictions.
However, they say that they will allow 'masks' for religious reasons or in cold weather.
No more masked protestors
Dalai Lama "said "I love President George W Bush.""
>>>> "The head of the Tibetan government-in-exile left the audience stunned when he said "I love President George W Bush.""
""They (terrorists) are very brilliant and educated...but a strong ill feeling is bred in them. Their minds are closed," the Dalai Lama said."
...-
"Non-violence can't tackle terror: Dalai
Times of India
NEW DELHI: The Dalai Lama, a lifelong champion of non-violence on Saturday candidly stated that terrorism cannot be tackled by applying the principle of ahimsa because the minds of terrorists are closed.
"It is difficult to deal with terrorism through non-violence," the Tibetan spiritual leader said delivering the Madhavrao Scindia Memorial Lecture here.
He also termed terrorism as the worst kind of violence which is not carried by a few mad people but by those who are very brilliant and educated.
"They (terrorists) are very brilliant and educated...but a strong ill feeling is bred in them. Their minds are closed," the Dalai Lama said.
He said that the only way to tackle terrorism is through prevention. The head of the Tibetan government-in-exile left the audience stunned when he said "I love President George W Bush." He went on to add how he and the US President instantly struck a chord in their first meeting unlike politicians who take a while to develop close ties."
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2166994/posts
"AngusReid: Con. 39%, Lib. 30%, NDP 17%, BQ 9%, Grn. 5% ..." (bourque)
...-
""There is fear in the land," said Ignatieff,"
"Ignatieff leadership gives Liberal spirits a boost"
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/573151
STOPIGGY.
Was at the rally, good crowd, well behaved, just cheering Israel. Crummy day with the cold and snow, guess that is why there were not the large number that could have been there. Quite a contrast to the screaming and "Death to the Jews" signs of the muslim and lefty march.
For you string theorists:
http://xkcd.com/397/
Thanks for the feedback from all you folks who expressed appreciation for Kim's talk. Just be clear on one thing though: don't expect the new SDA LNR Distinguished Lecture, Documentary, & Interview series to dwell on physics. As I mentioned in the first show in this series, we're planning to take an initial quick run through the map of philosophy ~ there are currently about two-dozen shows in the plan, then we'll bounce around on whatever items I come up with, at which point there will certainly be more physics. But for now, next week is planned to be our last physics show in the initial series, and we're planning to use that show to fade to chemistry, humans, and epistemology.
Daud Khattak, Taliban’s deadly ‘justice’ cows Pakistan
More than 70 Taliban courts are now ruling on hundreds of cases of “immoral activity” every week in the Swat valley, whose mountains, lakes and meadows were once a draw for tourists...
The Taliban’s reign of terror has prompted a series of advertisements in local Urdu newspapers from petrified Swat residents trying to renounce their offences to avoid brutal punishment. “I’ve stopped selling drugs and decided to earn my living by manual labour. In future, I won’t conduct un-Islamic business. Also, I’ll not use drugs,” said an advert published in a local Urdu paper by Nasirul Mulk, from Swat’s capital, Mingora...
No birds? What is this? MSM told us it was "The Birds"*.
...-
"Safety investigators again look for birds on radar of doomed jetliner
By Joan Lowy And Harry Weber, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS"
http://tinyurl.com/88a9do
(*H/T Alfred and Daphne)
No comparison between today's Pro-Israel Rally and the Pro-Palestinian Rally last week, with support from Hamas and Hezbollah, both groups outlawed in Canada.
The crowd was completely orderly and respectful and the organizers even prayed for the Palestinians, in the hopes that their leaders would care for them and help them to develop a civilized culture and society, which would benefit not only them but all of the people in the surrounding area.
In addition to the singing of the Israeli national anthem about half-way through the rally, the crowd sang O Canada, not something that happened at the pro-Palestinian rally. The organizers were handing out the flags of both Israel and Canada -- proportionality I can support!
There was a large police presence, but they had very little to do. If they're honest, they must be comparing the two rallies and wondering what "the religion of peace" is talking about.
What peace?
I didn't see Kathy Shaidle. Darn!
I know she was there.
On Jan. 17-09, the CBC reported that in Montreal, a stillborn baby's body had been discovered in a private laundromat. The laundry originated from a nearby hospital, namely Lakeshore General Hospital in Pointe Claire.
I commented on the story on CBC.CA. My comment was to the effect that such a story, coming from Quebec, did not surprise me. The CBC moderator took my comment off the air. I write under the (CBC) handle, "Johnny West." I meant no disrespect to the deceased child or the family. I simply meant to express that in Quebec, the public seems to be impervious to such autrocities. Why was I not allowed to express my opinion?? Perhaps my living in Western Canada has a lot to do with it!! Who knows.?? Thanks for letting me write this!
You know what, Johnny West? That was my first thought too. Only in Quebec, you say?
Look, Quebec's gone from having the highest birth rate in Canada a scant 50 years ago to having the lowest birth rate in Canada, in large part due to their very high abortion rate. Quebec just doesn't seem to put a very high premium on the value of human life.
Let's just say, I wasn't surprised to hear that this had happened in Quebec. And why am I not surprised that the CBC censored your comment? Our "progressives" need protection, right?, especially from us knuckledragging, redneck yahoos.
Sad, isn't it?