Coolest videos ever - The Elegant Universe

[Shoyru_Lover]

The Elegant Universe 1: Einstein's Dream
Part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poINyvCN3tc
Part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVeW-AbDo1U
Part 3 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYA2XuwL_00
Part 4 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAK-q6giRmE
Part 5 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPPWTEa4e_k

The Elegant Universe 2:
Part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YpRyKbeIz8
Part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nfBKE2u6bo
Part 3 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-cmO7TW78o
Part 4 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WFD7BagKwk
Part 5 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syNJs6PSpZQ

The Elegant Universe 3:
Part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jf7YkwW4zRI
Part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnRBJgP_dwA
Part 3 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95ikbRzIxeg
Part 4 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGnhsudTaRI
Part 5 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPdcWrlvshk

[Cyanna]

I had to watch The Elegant Universe for a science class. It's a fascinating show.

[[angel]]

Oh my gosh, I can't believe I'd never heard about that until now. Thanks so much for the plug, even though I only had time to watch the first one it was fasssscinating.

[Sigh]

I've watched those so many times lol. They're amazing ^^

[Xandra]

Ooh, I've seen those on TV before, but I'd totally forgotten until now. Thanks for the links, Kym.

*goes to watch again*

[btjaus]

I just hate the idea of String Theory being the end-all of physics. It isn't even clear if string theory is physics, after all. No doubt Brian Green is a incredible man, a genius, but I think sometimes he can get too interested in the maths, and not look at the bigger picture.

Who sees my point here?

[Asthaloth]

I just hate the idea of String Theory being the end-all of physics. It isn't even clear if string theory is physics, after all. No doubt Brian Green is a incredible man, a genius, but I think sometimes he can get too interested in the maths, and not look at the bigger picture.

Who sees my point here?

I see your point, but lets face it, the Universe has to stop Somewhere and it may as well be String theory instead of Quarks.
Damn them and their sticky modular ways!

That, and it is really rather interesting to imagine the kinds of things we could do with Cosmic strings (Assuming we are even half right I mean) Chucking missiles at right angles to reality, snapping a string into 'real space' for the briefest moment to annihilate a planet.
Yeah okay, I see string theory and go straight to the military application, but imagine the possibilities of it.

[btjaus]

Well sure, it's easy to say that the Universe ends with string theory (assuming it was correct), but the entirety of reality does not.

Ok, if string theory was right, the idea of Branes and cosmic strings etc coming together in adjacent universes in a giant "Loaf" tells us that while we may have the laws of one universe, we don't have the laws of all the others. And besides, what's the point in finding out that there is a loaf, unless we can figure out what's outside the loaf?

A good friend of mine once said that there will never be a day where a physicist writes down an equation, looks at it and says "Ok, that's all done, better find a new job."

Too true. String theory is promising (in one sense, the maths is nice, sure) but if true, opens a LOT of other questions. If wrong, it's back to the problems sitting before Einstein on his deathbed.

[Asthaloth]

Thats the appeal though.
One day we will understand all there is to know, somehow or some way, it may mean that we must come together in some giant hive mind consciousness with all other life (I'm kinda chucking out the biggest craziest thing here) or we may even learn that to learn all there is to now we must become as the G-D's themselves, for what is a G-D but a being with greater understanding and power?
Are we not as G-D's to the insects of this world? the young interlopers who would encroach upon their realms.
What was my point...
Oh yes, the lure of Omniscience is what drives us on, because there has to be an end somewhere, even if it is beyond anything we are now, even if it is beyond even the Titans of old* its there, and we damn well deserve to find it.



*Sorry, I have a habit of mixing my theological belief into my scientific belief.

[Rissa]

I quite like this. It's kind of confusing, but it's interesting. Makes me wish a little that I'd taken physics.

[btjaus]

I quite like this. It's kind of confusing, but it's interesting. Makes me wish a little that I'd taken physics.

Any questions, I'm sure I can help, and my new friend Setekh seems more than qualified to help as well

I agree with you, Setekh, that modern physics seems to approach a realm of metaphysiscs and philosphy which may lead right down the rabbit-hole. What will we find in 500 years, and will we find the greater truth of... anything?

"The titans were the greatest creatures of creation, more powerful even than the Gods!"

Love that quote.

[Asthaloth]

I quite like this. It's kind of confusing, but it's interesting. Makes me wish a little that I'd taken physics.

To be honest I just kind pick this stuff up from. I have no idea actually, I just seem to pick it up and have an innate ability to understand it.

It's an interesting subject, how Theology and Science do actually interact, there is far more faith in Science than some people would have you believe.
And I do so love the titans, and Ur G-D's they're fun too.
*Hugs his imaginary Kronos Plushie*
....

[btjaus]

there is far more faith in Science than some people would have you believe.

Well I don't know about that Don't knock my profession. Faith in string theory being 'correct' or an accurate depiction of the universe is all we have at this point, but that's because we are yet to make any testable predictions. It is the proof these testable predictions (if they yielded such proof) that would validate the other, more philosophical questions that string theory brings up.

I know you how you feel, on the topic of innate understanding. The worst thing is when I try to explain it to people with more and more excitement creeping into my voice, and ridiculous hand gestures, and so on. Most difficult is how to explain "Before" the universe, if time as a dimension does not exist...

Hmm.

[Asthaloth]

I didn't mean String theory specifically, but when one of the basic laws of our Universe only works some of the time (Gravity, I'm looking at you) you know that there has to be some faith.
For example, not fifty years ago we Knew that SOL was the be all and end of of speed.
Now?
We can slow light down to Motorway speeds.
Oh yeah light we own you now (Bwahahaha and all that)