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May 27, 2016
Loop quantum gravity theory offers glimpse beyond the event horizon
Posted by Andreas Matt in categories: cosmology, quantum physics
In principle, nothing that enters a black hole can leave the black hole. This has considerably complicated the study of these mysterious bodies, which generations of physicists have debated since 1916, when their existence was hypothesized as a direct consequence of Einstein’s Theory of Relativity. There is, however, some consensus in the scientific community regarding black hole entropy—a measure of the inner disorder of a physical system—because its absence would violate the second law of thermodynamics. In particular, Jacob Bekenstein and Stephen Hawking have suggested that the entropy of a black hole is proportional to its area, rather than its volume, as would be more intuitive. This assumption also gives rise to the “holography” hypothesis of black holes, which (very roughly) suggests that what appears to be three-dimensional might, in fact, be an image projected onto a distant two-dimensional cosmic horizon, just like a hologram, which, despite being a two-dimensional image, appears to be three-dimensional.
As we cannot see beyond the event horizon (the outer boundary of the back hole), the internal microstates that define its entropy are inaccessible. So how is it possible to calculate this measure? The theoretical approach adopted by Hawking and Bekenstein is semiclassical (a sort of hybrid between classical physics and quantum mechanics) and introduces the possibility (or necessity) of adopting a quantum gravity approach in these studies in order to obtain a more fundamental comprehension of the physics of black holes.
Planck’s length is the (tiny) dimension at which space-time stops being continuous as we see it, and takes on a discrete graininess made up of quanta, the “atoms” of space-time. The universe at this dimension is described by quantum mechanics. Quantum gravity is the field of enquiry that investigates gravity in the framework of quantum mechanics. Gravity has been very well described within classical physics, but it is unclear how it behaves at the Planck scale.
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May 27, 2016
Transhumanist visionary Zoltan Istvan believes Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton need him to win
Posted by Zoltan Istvan in categories: geopolitics, life extension, transhumanism
Here’s an article on transhumanism in Oregon’s largest paper, The Oregonian: It highlights something I’m trying to create: the impact of a “longevity vote” in the elections to make a difference for the length of people’s lifespans.
Zoltan Istvan is ready to encourage his supporters to vote for either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump in November — if one of the major-party candidates agrees to put him to work in the White House.
And they’d better take his offer seriously, because he figures he just might be able to tip the election whichever way he wants.
May 27, 2016
Techies seek refuge from devices — By Wendy Lee | San Francisco Chronicle
Posted by Odette Bohr Dienel in category: fun
“This summer, more than 2,000 people, many of them employees of the Bay Area’s tech giants and startups, will participate in six Camp Grounded events in California, New York, North Carolina and Texas as a way to reconnect with fellow human beings without a laptop, smartphone or Apple Watch.”
May 27, 2016
Two-hundred-terabyte maths proof is largest ever
Posted by Sean Cusack in category: computing
A computer has cracked the Boolean Pythagorean triples problem — but is it really maths? http://bit.ly/1sAVMB8
May 27, 2016
8 Reasons The Business World is Looking For Sustainability Experts
Posted by Magaly Santiago in categories: business, sustainability
More and more businesses are upping their green game — in both senses of the hue — and are looking to hire people who can help them do it.
May 27, 2016
The New ‘Deus Ex’ Trailer Is a Scary Dystopian Movie
Posted by Magaly Santiago in category: entertainment
May 27, 2016
Tesla driver asleep
Posted by Shailesh Prasad in categories: robotics/AI, sustainability, transportation
Click on photo to start video.
A Tesla driver was caught sleeping on the highway with his car on Autopilot. https://www.facebook.com/techinsider/videos/514246548773706/
May 27, 2016
MMTP — Major Mouse Testing Program — Interview with Daria Khaltourina — ILA
Posted by Steve Hill in categories: biotech/medical, health, life extension
MMTP Campaign update “Aging is a disease”.
Crowdfunding Campaign: https://www.lifespan.io/campaigns/the-major-mouse-testing-program/
Continue reading “MMTP — Major Mouse Testing Program — Interview with Daria Khaltourina — ILA” »
May 26, 2016
These ‘stealth motorcycles’ DARPA commissioned could run on nearly any fuel
Posted by Karen Hurst in categories: energy, transportation
Say this for DARPA, it’s not shy about picking ominous names for its projects. Or, in this case, not worried when the partners it works with choose them. Pictured above: the “Nightmare” a “stealth bike” developed by LSA Autonomy for DARPA that has just been moved on to the second stage of development, according to Defense One. DARPA commissioned both it and another bike from Logos Technologies to meet some specific goals: run quietly on electric power, but also run on whatever fuel a soldier in the field.
Alex Dzwill of Logos told Defense One that its bike, the SilentHawk, could run on anything from gasoline to propane to jet fuel:” It will figure it out.”