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Re: Faster than light? What happens in science when big ideas change.
As an unintended consequence of neutrinos being found to go faster than light, I can picture alien conspiracists all over the world hopping up and down yelling, "See, see, we told you so."
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Re: Faster than light? What happens in science when big ideas change.
johnson1010 wrote:
For those not keeping up with the news from CERN, it looks like neutrinos might travel just a tiny bit faster than light.
So what now? Time for everybody to panic? Time to burn somebody at the stake? Time to throw Einstein out the window?
No. Time to confirm. Time for the people at CERN to turn over their data and let everyone else try to duplicate their results. If they can't, then they will figure out what went wrong. If they CAN, then we refine our understanding and move on.
If true, this does have big implications. But being wrong is the portal to knowing the truth, if you are able to accept the failure of your previous notions.
Science is nothing more than the evolution of theories.
_________________ "Quantum mechanics is very worthy of regard. But an inner voice tells me that this is not yet the right track. The theory yields much, but it hardly brings us closer to the Old One's secrets. I, in any case, am convinced that He does not play dice" - Albert Einstein.
The philosopher Richard Paul has described three kinds of people: vulgar believers, who use slogans and platitudes to bully those holding different points of view into agreeing with them; sophisticated believers, who are skilled at using intellectual arguments, but only to defend what they already believe; and critical believers, who reason their way to conclusions and are ready to listen to others."
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Re: Faster than light? What happens in science when big ideas change.
geo wrote:
Interbane wrote:
You can't undo the previous evidence, even if you find new evidence that goes against the theory. Whatever theory we think up to replace an old one does not start from scratch. It must explain all previous observations as well. Which means that if these experimental results are true and Einstein was wrong, the upgrade or replacement will predict the same results as Einstein's theory did in the vast majority of cases.
Maybe the FTL neutrino goes against Einstein's theory of relativity, but whatever theory arises from this new information will probably be compatible with Einsteinian physics up to a point. As johnson says, there is a vast body of evidence that supports Einstein's theories. The new theory will, however, necessarily reveal some unforeseen contingency or dimension of space-time that we previously have not considered. It will be like getting a more powerful lens for our telescope, revealing more detail than we've been able to see before. This could be the beginning of a new paradigm for physics. I can't wait to hear of confirming evidence of the FTL neutrino and the new theories that will follow.
I like your telescope analogy. We are able to observe natural phenomena in greater detail because our machinery is becoming more and more powerful. No doubt as we advance in our ability to create more powerful "looking glasses" the more our perception of nature will change.
With the advent of the FTL neutrino, relationships in physics will need to be redefined, but ultimate truths will still be out of our reach.
_________________ "Quantum mechanics is very worthy of regard. But an inner voice tells me that this is not yet the right track. The theory yields much, but it hardly brings us closer to the Old One's secrets. I, in any case, am convinced that He does not play dice" - Albert Einstein.
The philosopher Richard Paul has described three kinds of people: vulgar believers, who use slogans and platitudes to bully those holding different points of view into agreeing with them; sophisticated believers, who are skilled at using intellectual arguments, but only to defend what they already believe; and critical believers, who reason their way to conclusions and are ready to listen to others."
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Re: Faster than light? What happens in science when big ideas change.
Actually, Einstein ironically in the end turned his back on what he Fathered, Quantum Theory, in favor of his intuitive hunch that "the Old One does not place dice." So, in essence, the paradigm Einstein brought in, was one he felt was wrong.
FTL neutrinos would change our understanding of the fabric of space. It would be more than just a mop up job. And perhaps maybe, just maybe, Einstein was on to something. Maybe if this is paradigm time, then it is exactly the direction which Einstein thought we should all be going. Which direction is that - hell if I know.
Kurt Godel, Einstein's buddy, was said to have developed a mathematical theorem that proved time travel was possible (from what I recall). Perhaps FTL neutrinos will provide evidence for that.
Just thinking out loud here, but if neutrinos are traveling faster than light, then the arrow of time no longer points in one direction??
_________________ "Quantum mechanics is very worthy of regard. But an inner voice tells me that this is not yet the right track. The theory yields much, but it hardly brings us closer to the Old One's secrets. I, in any case, am convinced that He does not play dice" - Albert Einstein.
The philosopher Richard Paul has described three kinds of people: vulgar believers, who use slogans and platitudes to bully those holding different points of view into agreeing with them; sophisticated believers, who are skilled at using intellectual arguments, but only to defend what they already believe; and critical believers, who reason their way to conclusions and are ready to listen to others."
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Re: Faster than light? What happens in science when big ideas change.
Quote:
I've sometimes wondered if the conceptual structure of a theory could predict all experimental results, yet still be wrong.
Here's Richard Feynman talking about this very thing.
The specifics start at 5:30 and continue on into the following video.
Feynman was great for these kinds of discussions, and i really suggest everyone watch as much from Feynman on youtube as you can find. I don't think you'd be disapointed.
_________________ Have you tried that? Looking for answers? Or have you been content to be terrified of a thing you know nothing about?
Nowhere in the Bible does it state that the truth would be revealed through logic and evidence. -James Williamson MD
Science flies you to the moon. Religion flies you into buildings.
In the absence of God, I found Man. -Guillermo Del Torro
If you think education is expensive, try ignorance. -Derek Bok
You wouldn't like me when i'm angry... Because I always back up my rage with facts and documented sources. -The Credible Hulk
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