New theory claims to unite Einstein’s gravity with quantum mechanics
Modern physics is founded upon two pillars: quantum theory on the one hand, which governs the smallest particles in the universe, and Einstein’s theory of general relativity on the other, which explains gravity through the bending of spacetime. But these two theories are in contradiction with each other and a reconciliation has remained elusive for over a century.
The prevailing assumption has been that Einstein’s theory of gravity must be modified, or “quantized,” in order to fit within quantum theory. This is the approach of two leading candidates for a quantum theory of gravity, string theory and loop quantum gravity.
But a new theory, developed by Professor Jonathan Oppenheim (UCL Physics & Astronomy) and laid out in a paper in Physical Review X, challenges that consensus and takes an alternative approach by suggesting that spacetime may be classical—that is, not governed by quantum theory at all.
Instead of modifying spacetime, the theory—dubbed a “postquantum theory of classical gravity”—modifies quantum theory and predicts an intrinsic breakdown in predictability that is mediated by spacetime itself. This results in random and violent fluctuations in spacetime that are larger than envisaged under quantum theory, rendering the apparent weight of objects unpredictable if measured precisely enough.
See also.
Flies in Urinals: The Value of Design Disruptions
I discovered my favorite example of disruptive design about 10 years ago, between flights at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport. This was not a slick new airline logo that attracted new customers or an innovative wayfinding system that helped people find their flights. It was the realistic image of a small black fly inside the white urinals in the men’s bathroom. When I first saw the fly, I wondered why it stayed put. Then I looked to the empty urinal next to me and spotted the same fly. They all had them. In response to dirty bathrooms caused by men urinating on the floor, an airport maintenance worker suggested that they etch the image onto the urinals to give men something to aim at as they hurry to and from flights. According to NPR science correspondent Robert Krulwich, who gave a fuller account of the story, the man thought back to his time serving in the Dutch army during the 1960s, when red dots had been painted on the latrines in the barracks to improve cleanliness. Sure enough, spillage rates in the airport men’s room dropped an estimated 80 percent after the fly was introduced, leading to a much cleaner bathroom.
Nobel-Winning Physicist Richard Feynman’s Extraordinary Letter to His Departed Wife
PS Please excuse my not mailing this — but I don’t know your new address.
AI reads text from ancient Herculaneum scroll for the first time
A 21-year-old computer-science student has won a global contest to read the first text inside a carbonized scroll from the ancient Roman city of Herculaneum, which had been unreadable since a volcanic eruption in AD 79 — the same one that buried nearby Pompeii. The breakthrough could open up hundreds of texts from the only intact library to survive from Greco-Roman antiquity.
Luke Farritor, who is at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, developed a machine-learning algorithm that has detected Greek letters on several lines of the rolled-up papyrus, including πορϕυρας (porphyras), meaning ‘purple’. Farritor used subtle, small-scale differences in surface texture to train his neural network and highlight the ink.
Water
(Open this on a mobile device, not a laptop or desktop.)
Opportunity Econophysics: Opportunity Cones, Conscious Agents, and Mechanical Traces of the Conscious Dimension
The quest to capture mechanical traces of
consciousness within spatiomatter presents a
compelling challenge. By leveraging advanced technologies, such as mobile devices equipped with sensors, we have the potential to gather immense volumes of data from billions of participants. Through data analysis, we aim to uncover patterns, correlations, and anomalies that may reveal the influence of consciousness on the physical realm. The development of novel workflows and data processing techniques enables us to navigate this vast ocean of information, inching closer to capturing the elusive traces of consciousness within spatiomatter.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, cribbing liberally from my favorite comedian: free will is a cognitive distortion made to compartmentalize chaos.
As we traverse this fascinating territory, we inch closer to unraveling the fundamental nature of consciousness, empowering us to forge new paths in resource management, decision-making, and the pursuit of a more harmonious and prosperous future.
“Harmonious” and “prosperous” are doing a lot of work in that sentence.
Overall? Fascinating.
Everything Must Be Paid for Twice via Kottke
Paying a second price, unpleasant as it sounds, is a process you can acquire a taste for, and when you do, it’s exhilarating. It’s like picking your way through unmapped wilderness – the going is slow and there’s lots to trip over, but it’s new territory the whole way, and after the initial discomfort you feel very alive. Then when you come out the other side, this new territory has become part of your usual range, and you’re tougher and more interesting.