Physics news

Henry J · Post by **Henry J** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 10:43 am

Super-heavy Nuclei Take Shape In 'Extreme' New Theories

Advanced computational methods and supporting experiments, including work performed at the DOE's ORNL, are giving scientists a better understanding of the nature and stability of superheavy nuclei and the heaviest elements that lie beyond the borders of the periodic table.

Henry J · Post by **Henry J** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 8:55 am

Moonbeams Shine on Einstein, Galileo and Newton

Thirty-five years after Moon-walking astronauts placed special reflectors on the lunar surface, scientists have used these devices to test Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity to unprecedented accuracy. The findings, which also confirm theories from Galileo Galilei and Isaac Newton, may help to explain physical laws of the universe and benefit future space missions.

***

The Neutrino Underground

Fermilab's NuMI/MINOS experiment will fire trillions of the ghostly particles through the Earth in an effort to learn their secrets

Henry J · Post by **Henry J** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 10:11 am

String theorist explores dark energy and our unique 'pocket' of the universe

Penn Astrophysicist Outlines a Multi-Pronged Approach in The Hunt for Dark Energy

For the last few years evidence that we are living on a very "weird" universe has been growing: the expansion of the universe is accelerating, and one theory proposed to account for this acceleration is what has been termed "dark energy."

(Looking through a glass darkly?)

***

NYU’S Dvali Says Change in Laws of Gravity, Not ‘Dark Energy,’ Source of Cosmic Acceleration

New York University physicist Georgi Dvali concludes that the cosmic acceleration of the universe may be caused by the modification of standard laws of gravity at very large distances, and not by “dark energy,” as posited by many in the field.

(Hey, wait a minute... wouldn't this make that previous article obsolete?

)

***

lswot · Post by **lswot** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 12:22 pm

Quote:
For the last few years evidence that we are living on a very "weird" universe has been growing: the expansion of the universe is accelerating, and one theory proposed to account for this acceleration is what has been termed "dark energy."
(Looking through a glass darkly?)

***

NYU’S Dvali Says Change in Laws of Gravity, Not ‘Dark Energy,’ Source of Cosmic Acceleration Quote:
New York University physicist Georgi Dvali concludes that the cosmic acceleration of the universe may be caused by the modification of standard laws of gravity at very large distances, and not by “dark energy,” as posited by many in the field.
(Hey, wait a minute... wouldn't this make that previous article obsolete? )

***

FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!

Henry J · Post by **Henry J** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 8:27 am

Scientists Work To Detect Mysterious Neutrinos

Livermore scientists are working to solve a 50-year-old question: Can neutrinos – a particle that is relatively massless, has no electric charge yet is fundamental to the make-up of the universe – transform from one type to another?

lswot · Post by **lswot** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 12:27 pm

Henry J wrote:Scientists Work To Detect Mysterious Neutrinos
Livermore scientists are working to solve a 50-year-old question: Can neutrinos – a particle that is relatively massless, has no electric charge yet is fundamental to the make-up of the universe – transform from one type to another?

From nothing to nothing?

Henry J · Post by **Henry J** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 12:28 pm

Um, well, yeah. Simpler that way.

lswot · Post by **lswot** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 12:31 pm

Henry J wrote:Um, well, yeah. Simpler that way.

I never was one to mince words.

Henry J · Post by **Henry J** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 9:01 am

Quantum Computers May Be Easier to Build Than Predicted, NIST Work Suggests

A full-scale quantum computer could produce reliable results even if its components performed no better than today’s best first-generation prototypes, [...]

(That does not yet compute, but it's getting there, huh?)

***

INSPIRED BY NATURE: Undergraduate Develops Antenna To Help Robot Move Like a Cockroach

***

lswot · Post by **lswot** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 11:47 am

***

INSPIRED BY NATURE: Undergraduate Develops Antenna To Help Robot Move Like a Cockroach

Why?

Henry J · Post by **Henry J** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 1:05 pm

Why? Because!

Or more seriously, because robot visual and sonar systems have limitations that they're trying to work around, by adding touch sensors to detect obstacles.

Henry

Henry J · Post by **Henry J** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 12:21 pm

Light may arise from relativity violations

Light as we know it may be a direct result of small violations of relativity, according to new research scheduled for publication online Tuesday (March 22) in the journal Physical Review D.

Henry J · Post by **Henry J** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 9:53 am

Snake-like robot conquers obstacles

A virtually unstoppable "snakebot" developed by a University of Michigan team resembles a high-tech slinky as it climbs pipes and stairs, rolls over rough terrain and spans wide gaps to reach the other side.

(Over hill, over dale, we have hit the slinky trail...)

Website · Post by **brian** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 11:14 am

Snakes and cockroaches. What's next, spiders?

lswot · Post by **lswot** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 11:28 am

brian wrote:Snakes and cockroaches. What's next, spiders?

Yeah?