The Universe

Site Subscriber Joined: 07 Oct 2004 Posts: 2281

They're not all theories, elements of Einstein's theories on relativity have been proven although it's very difficult since the technology has been missing that can measure infinitesimally small measurements of time and distance (picoseconds/metres etc.) You also need to be able to generate sub-atomic particle and anti-particle pairs such as baryons and mesons, and it would be even more useful if we could generate the elementary particle and anti-particle pairs of bosons, leptons and quarks.

This in part explains why vast amounts are being spent on particle accelerators.

[IMG:300:240:d9956ca8c6]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3f/Fermilab.jpg[/img:d9956ca8c6]

Also, individuals from differents veins of science from the mid to late 20th century have also inadvertently validated one another's work, the main example I can think of is Newton's laws of gravitation and motion proving Kepler's earlier theories on planetary movements to be correct. In the time he was alive Kepler was laughed at because he had no way of proving his theories. By the time Newton came along people realised that Kepler had been right all along.

Another one of these universal values they're trying to work out is the Hubble constant, this value single-handedly determines the fate of the Universe. Depending on whether this constant is less than, equal to, or greater than a value 'x' determines whether the Universe will carry on growing for eternity, exist in an eventual steady-state, or contract back into a singularity (big crunch theory)

Mr Quoter-vator Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 7405

WOOSH!!

what was that?

I dunno, but it went right over my head!

Very Happy

Site Subscriber Joined: 07 Oct 2004 Posts: 2281

I'm sure a man of your intelligence can understand that!

Retroholic Joined: 12 Feb 2004 Posts: 5685

Why somebody would spend millions(billions) building 2 particle accelerators and not giving them nipples is perhaps the biggest question

Site Subscriber Joined: 07 Oct 2004 Posts: 2281

The question of why they spend millions/billions to find out about something which has no obvious commercial incentives is just as baffling!

Retroholic Joined: 12 Feb 2004 Posts: 5685

Pah, read Dan Browns Deception Point then!

Retroholic Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 1000

and also, where does the universe end? does it, and can it actually end? makes u wonder........

Level 9 User Joined: 03 Jul 2006 Posts: 412

the universe starts in my bedroom, and ends about 15 billion light years away, just over... there.

Retroholic Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 1000

re: speed of light........

Scientists have been measuring the speed of light for three centuries, and they have it down to an accuracy of half a foot per second. The speed of light is 186, 282.3959 miles per second

Site Subscriber Joined: 07 Oct 2004 Posts: 2281

bidderman1969";p="106734 wrote:

and also, where does the universe end? does it, and can it actually end? makes u wonder........

It's forever expanding, has been for about 15 billion years or so like Tom says!

That's what my earlier talk of the Hubble constant was all about, the value of this constant will supposedly give an indication of the fate of the Universe, which will be

A) Continued expansion for eternity
B) Expansion for x years and then it will come to rest and remain static
C) Expansion for x years and then the gravitational forces between galaxies will draw the Universe back together (Big Crunch theory)

It's the value of this constant that has enabled calculations of the Universe's age and size to be measured, although the precise value is hotly debated and at best an estimate since the value depends on the total mass of the Universe and since the advent of things like the existence of dark matter calculating the total mass is nigh on an impossibility.

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

tominbristol";p="106389 wrote:

According the the pattern of our universe, the speed of light cannot be exceeded -

It can, I give you 'subspace' Wink

Retroholic Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 1000

but, nothing can go on forever, there has to be and end somewhere

Site Subscriber Joined: 07 Oct 2004 Posts: 2281

Yes it has a boundary, albeit an ever increasing one, then after that is just nothingness.

It's just one of them things you can't get your head round I know!

Level 9 User Joined: 03 Jul 2006 Posts: 412

I wouldn't jsut say nothingness necessarily, more like nothing we can detect or can be aware of - it's too far away lol. You could imagine a Multiverse which is made up of lots of independent Universes... Very Happy

Retroholic Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 1000

and of course, there has to be life out there somewhere.......

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

bidderman1969";p="106915 wrote:

and of course, there has to be life out there somewhere.......

that is to me an unquestionable fact. It cannot simply be us alone.

Retroholic Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 1000

i believe there was life on Mars, long before us

Mr Quoter-vator Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 7405

Chris H";p="106917 wrote:

bidderman1969";p="106915 wrote:

and of course, there has to be life out there somewhere.......

that is to me an unquestionable fact. It cannot simply be us alone.

I agree. I think people are stupid to say otherwise.

Level 10 User Joined: 04 Nov 2005 Posts: 575

yup, with the sheer size of the universe I can't see it being the case that we are the only inteligent lifeform there is, theres probably loads of other inteligent lifeforms. What always amazes me is that if this topic comes up on other forums loads of people seem to think it impossible that other lifeforms could be more advanced than us, they pressume they can't be but in reality they could be thousands of years ahead of us technologically and when you think of where we would be in a few thousand years they could be a hell of a lot more advanced than us.

Retroholic Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 1000

the only thing i can say to that donsrno is why havent they been hear and contacted us? apart from the fact we hate each other and want to blow each other off the planet.... we really are quite nice on the whole..... and no i dont believe in UFO's.....

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

well the rules of physics would still apply to them, take a hell of a long time several hundred generations to get here from their planets.

Only if wormholes and so on were controlled with accuracy would they be able to get here quickly, even at the speed of light they are a long time away.