tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post8010290362649782119..comments2024-03-22T12:11:58.453-06:00Comments on Michael Offutt: The Dual Slit Experiment & Hawking's ImplicationsMichael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-77329872182266107082011-02-28T20:12:18.785-07:002011-02-28T20:12:18.785-07:00http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2011/feb/28/larg...http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2011/feb/28/large-hadron-collider-higgs-bosonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-29533588359964342112011-02-24T12:40:23.864-07:002011-02-24T12:40:23.864-07:00Hi Michael. Thanks for stopping by the blog and co...Hi Michael. Thanks for stopping by the blog and commenting. I totally loved this post because I too think quantum mechanics rocks and often use it as a basis in my stories. One of my backburner stories is built on quantum entanglement. So way to go! I write about science at my blog on thursdays and posted something recently on time 'teleportation.' So cool.Sierra Gardnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16364930724666386832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-44402843513238190522011-02-24T12:38:28.650-07:002011-02-24T12:38:28.650-07:00Aweeeeeee You did a fantasic job of this. Chaos t...Aweeeeeee You did a fantasic job of this. Chaos theory is what got me started in this adoration of physics. S Hawking Rules! I love his string theory but it still has flaws. Once they get to the point they can represent an infinite wave - things will change. My characters, the Djinn, explain the things they can do with physics. "Microwaves existed before you could make popcorn with them. I exist within laws you can't observe yet."<br />LOL I love that you watch supernatural AND know physics!HowLynnTimehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07888091432152130146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-30113931087192155052011-02-24T01:18:45.491-07:002011-02-24T01:18:45.491-07:00This is fascinating, Michael. Does you write about...This is fascinating, Michael. Does you write about quantuum mechanics in your stories? You should.Deborah Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10120928766455872439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-40187735210717020422011-02-23T18:33:41.471-07:002011-02-23T18:33:41.471-07:00Michael-
I adore quantum physics, and your explan...Michael-<br /><br />I adore quantum physics, and your explanation went down like cold-brewed coffee ;). <br /><br />I much prefer books where the basis for behavior is based in scientific fact. Mind you, this can be physics or it can be behavioral science. I don't quite comprehend how calculus can tie into a story, but my non-linear mind has little basis for understanding. <br /><br />I'm sure you make it clear.<br /><br />Thank you for sharing this- sliced bread indeed!lizzyBathoryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13240777768274838923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-77983949967622002172011-02-23T16:00:14.281-07:002011-02-23T16:00:14.281-07:00Also Laura, your question "what was observing...Also Laura, your question "what was observing matter and light before animals, people, and dinosaurs existed?" is the point of the post. Professor Hawking is a proponent of String Theory or more appropriately, M-Theory, which is the existence of multiple universes on these things called "branes". He believes that there just might be something outside the universes that acts as an "observer" and always has been forcing sub-atomic particles to behave appropriately. This opens up a whole new can of worms with the question "what determines shape?" and is related to the mission of C.E.R.N. (the huge particle collider in Europe) which is hunting for the elusive Higgs Boson particle (referred to as the God particle by some).Michael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-33477221911645500152011-02-23T15:38:49.801-07:002011-02-23T15:38:49.801-07:00It's a difficult topic. The Dual Slit phenomen...It's a difficult topic. The Dual Slit phenomenon fascinates me but without some kind of background on it, the terminology used by scientists can be challenging to relay. Hawking stated that buckyballs are a nickname for the Carbon-60 molecules that were said to produce the same effect and in his book "The Grand Design" there were many illustrations showing just this. His humor was really good too. To date, I think Carbon-60 is the largest form of matter to display this quantum peculiarity. At one time, there were scientists that wanted to see if something as large as a virus would behave this way.Michael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-39642362204522528072011-02-23T15:02:13.553-07:002011-02-23T15:02:13.553-07:00I was cruising right along with the conversation u...I was cruising right along with the conversation until the seventh major paragraph ("Jordan continued.") I thought my brain was going to implode. The large block of information, not to mention the heavy topic, made it hard to get through and understand what was being said. Breaking it up might make it easier to consume. By the time I made it to the end I understood, though. You've got me thinking. My question is, what was observing matter and light before animals, people and dinosaurs existed?Laura M. Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07118305776404765529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-46786246181338808552011-02-23T14:43:00.957-07:002011-02-23T14:43:00.957-07:00Charlie...go check out some quantum entanglement v...Charlie...go check out some quantum entanglement via http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/01/timelike-entanglement/<br /><br />It's a fascinating read.Michael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-35148891925191052472011-02-23T14:03:11.015-07:002011-02-23T14:03:11.015-07:00Yes, I do think quantum mechanics is about as cool...Yes, I do think quantum mechanics is about as cool as sliced bread.Liz A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16531953467834426316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-70486869790130946872011-02-23T13:32:39.006-07:002011-02-23T13:32:39.006-07:00Thanks. I hope I can explain it well and readers b...Thanks. I hope I can explain it well and readers buy it. It is scifi but has magic, elves, dwarves, and dragons in it, but I plan to have that all explained somewhat in scientific terms by the end. <br /><br />I admit that, despite loving physics big and small, the beauty of chemistry as molecules interact, and the intricacies of biology, math makes my soul numb and part of me die inside. I blame my first grade teacher for making me do a problem in front of the class before I was ready. I have the mind of a biochemist who hates math. This is why I got a degree in English Lit. Ü<br /><br />Having said this, I would still read a scifi book with calculus. I would probably skim through the formulas and focus on the ideas behind them and love the book for the story and the characters. I look forward to reading your published book someday soon as well.Charlie Pulsipherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08877018077937978788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-17659097132330342142011-02-23T12:49:24.279-07:002011-02-23T12:49:24.279-07:00Your magic system for your book sounds amazing Cha...Your magic system for your book sounds amazing Charlie and definitely something that I'd want to read/purchase when it gets published. It's been a real struggle for me to find well-developed magic systems or hard science fiction in books. I dislike (am immediately turned off by) packaged books that gloss over science, math, or other details that to me, are the resounding heart of a story. However, there are few people like me as there is just no demand out there to warrant books of this kind. The science fiction book that I completed and someday want to publish has calculus in it--probably the kiss of death because no one wants to stare at integral or differential calculus, even if it is carefully explained and used in humor or as an essential part to explaining why something is working.Michael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-36368909357147164142011-02-23T10:28:44.209-07:002011-02-23T10:28:44.209-07:00Wow. I had a conversation with my wife about this ...Wow. I had a conversation with my wife about this just the other day prompted by someone else's blog talking about the same experiment.<br /><br />I was explaining to her how my magic system worked without being magic, but based on quantum physics and the idea that matter at its smallest seems to know and react to things that it should not. My novel takes place in an alternate universe where this quantum effect is even more sensitive to influence through language and willpower. At some point our brains cross over into this quantum realm. Nanotubes have been discovered there that some think may be involved in how our subconscious works. Our sense of smell may be tied to quantum tunneling. <br /><br />Sorry...I just get excited by quantum physics and I was surprised to see you suddenly bring them up. Great conversation to explain how crazy our universe really is. I like it and it flows well without being in the least confusing. The playfulness of the character also brings it down to earth.Charlie Pulsipherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08877018077937978788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-55474334869921759052011-02-23T09:05:50.766-07:002011-02-23T09:05:50.766-07:00Science!Science!PT Dillowayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09394481476862013009noreply@blogger.com