She argues that the principle of least action is the closest we have to a theory of everything but, of course, along comes quantum mechanics and… Quantum mechanics keeps the world interesting and reminds us that this is not a deterministic world after all.
Physics
Does a puzzling quantum scenario violate the conservation of energy?
If the scenario really violates the Law of Conservation of Energy, all bets are likely off about evolution issues of any type. Most likely, though, there is another explanation.
At Nautilus, a science writer muses on efforts to grapple with time — the universe’s odd dimension
Annaka Harris: “I think the flow of time is not part of the fundamental structure of reality,” theoretical physicist Carlo Rovelli tells me. He is currently working on a theory of quantum gravity in which the variable of time plays no part.”
Researchers see one particle on two paths, say it shows quantum physics is right
Researchers: “A single neutron is measured at a specific position—and due to the sophisticated measurement setup, this single measurement proofs already that the particle moved along two different paths at the same time. It is even possible to determine the ratio in which the neutron was distributed between the two paths. Thus, the phenomenon of quantum superposition can be proven without having to resort to statistical arguments.” Albert, check your mail.
Physicist Eric Hedin was bullied by atheists but not squashed
Hedin: Life with its “radiant beauty” defies naturalistic explanations.
FOR REFERENCE: Globular Cluster M55 as illustrating apparent aging of our galaxy (& cosmos)
It seems helpful to illustrate cosmological scale apparent aging as stars depart main sequence: An idealised, Hertzsprung-Russell chart for Hydrogen-rich balls prone to become fusion furnaces is: Here is a comparative plot (for open clusters), constructing a “clock” by projected pattern as a cluster ages, in effect seeing what is left as a candle burns Read More…
Would you believe? Time doesn’t really exist?
Philosopher Sam Baron: So unless we can come up with a good account of how time emerges, it is not clear we can simply assume time exists.
Physicist David Snoke: Living systems must obey the same rules as Maxwell’s demons
Snoke: I argue that information and entropy are objective physical quantities, defined for systems as a whole, which allow general arguments in terms of physical law. In particular, I argue that living systems obey the same rules as Maxwell’s demons.
Sabine Hossenfelder tells us who’s killing physics
Hossenfelder: But this illusion of progress is the minor problem. Worse is that they seem resigned to the idea that foundational work in physics is detached from experiment and technological application.
At Mind Matters News: Does information have mass? An experimental physicist weighs in
Rob Sheldon notes that the more real-world information we have, the less the bits weigh until, at very large amounts of information, they weigh almost nothing.
Asked at Space.com: Could gravity itself be the origin of dark matter?
Paul Sutter: A new model of the very early universe proposes that the graviton, the quantum mechanical force carrier of gravity, flooded the cosmos with dark matter before normal matter even had a chance to get started.
New find might “upend the Standard Model” in physics? Really? Rob Sheldon has the story
Sheldon: What this paper and journo piece reveals is the desperation felt in the particle physics community. They so desperately need the Standard Model to fail.
Standard Model doubted at Inference Review
In the cosmic microwave background frame, the large-scale averaged distribution of matter is also assumed to be isotropic… These assumptions are no longer tenable. Several independent data sets now argue against the existence of a cosmic rest frame.
Rob Sheldon: Maybe black holes don’t really exist. Consider the possibilities.
Sheldon: “What I sense is that false premises and bad assumptions have been coloring the entire field of Black Holes (and Big Bangs and quasars ) for decades now. Perhaps we should stop patching the creaking model and consider a new one. ” News: “Some of us can’t help wondering if the sheer philosophical pizzazz of the black hole keeps it going in its present state. A glamorous theory is bound to have a long run.”
A new solution for Hawking’s black hole paradox? “Quantum hair”
Catchy, we gotta admit: In 1976, Hawking suggested that, as black holes evaporate, they destroy information about what had formed them. That idea goes against a fundamental law of quantum mechanics which states any process in physics can be mathematically reversed. In the 1960s, physicist John Archibald Wheeler, discussing black holes’ lack of observable features Read More…