Probably the best way to up-end current understanding of physics would be to somehow prove faster-then-light travel is viable.
That would be the big head-scratcher of our time, and cause us to rethink a lot of fundamental theories about how shit works on a scale akin to the disruption of geo- or helio-centrism.
Coming in a close second would be the discovery of a way to use a "fold space" technique to jump from place to place, which would appear to simulate "FTL" travel but would actually just be an instantaneous switching of locations through the use of [insert discovery].
Shut up, everything you know about physics is wrong
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Coyote
- Rabid Monkey
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Re: Shut up, everything you know about physics is wrong
Something about Libertarianism always bothered me. Then one day, I realized what it was:
Libertarian philosophy can be boiled down to the phrase, "Work Will Make You Free."
In Libertarianism, there is no Government, so the Bosses are free to exploit the Workers.
In Communism, there is no Government, so the Workers are free to exploit the Bosses.
So in Libertarianism, man exploits man, but in Communism, its the other way around!
If all you want to do is have some harmless, mindless fun, go H3RE INST3ADZ0RZ!!
Grrr! Fight my Brute, you pansy!
Libertarian philosophy can be boiled down to the phrase, "Work Will Make You Free."
In Libertarianism, there is no Government, so the Bosses are free to exploit the Workers.
In Communism, there is no Government, so the Workers are free to exploit the Bosses.
So in Libertarianism, man exploits man, but in Communism, its the other way around!
If all you want to do is have some harmless, mindless fun, go H3RE INST3ADZ0RZ!!
Grrr! Fight my Brute, you pansy!
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Sarevok
- The Fearless One
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Re: Shut up, everything you know about physics is wrong
A lot of the rigorous mathematical treatment behind folding space or wormholes exists. The nature of space time has been studied extensively for nearly a hundred years now. It would not necessarily change the rest of physics drastically. The problem is an engineering one - how to do it with realistic methods. Sure it would open whole new avenues of research. But cause an upheavel like during the renessaince when a lot of older established science was overwritten ? I think not.
I have to tell you something everything I wrote above is a lie.
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Eternal_Freedom
- Castellan
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Re: Shut up, everything you know about physics is wrong
Discovering spce-beding tech would imho have amuch greater impact on society than science. The "wow, we can go to other stars quite easily!" thing would be a Big Thing.
Baltar: "I don't want to miss a moment of the last Battlestar's destruction!"
Centurion: "Sir, I really think you should look at the other Battlestar."
Baltar: "What are you babbling about other...it's impossible!"
Centurion: "No. It is a Battlestar."
Corrax Entry 7:17: So you walk eternally through the shadow realms, standing against evil where all others falter. May your thirst for retribution never quench, may the blood on your sword never dry, and may we never need you again.
Centurion: "Sir, I really think you should look at the other Battlestar."
Baltar: "What are you babbling about other...it's impossible!"
Centurion: "No. It is a Battlestar."
Corrax Entry 7:17: So you walk eternally through the shadow realms, standing against evil where all others falter. May your thirst for retribution never quench, may the blood on your sword never dry, and may we never need you again.
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Coyote
- Rabid Monkey
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- Contact:
Re: Shut up, everything you know about physics is wrong
Yeah, thinking about it, that would be a social and political change more than a physics one.
Something about Libertarianism always bothered me. Then one day, I realized what it was:
Libertarian philosophy can be boiled down to the phrase, "Work Will Make You Free."
In Libertarianism, there is no Government, so the Bosses are free to exploit the Workers.
In Communism, there is no Government, so the Workers are free to exploit the Bosses.
So in Libertarianism, man exploits man, but in Communism, its the other way around!
If all you want to do is have some harmless, mindless fun, go H3RE INST3ADZ0RZ!!
Grrr! Fight my Brute, you pansy!
Libertarian philosophy can be boiled down to the phrase, "Work Will Make You Free."
In Libertarianism, there is no Government, so the Bosses are free to exploit the Workers.
In Communism, there is no Government, so the Workers are free to exploit the Bosses.
So in Libertarianism, man exploits man, but in Communism, its the other way around!
If all you want to do is have some harmless, mindless fun, go H3RE INST3ADZ0RZ!!
Grrr! Fight my Brute, you pansy!
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jollyreaper
- Jedi Master
- Posts: 1127
- Joined: 2010-06-28 10:19pm
Re: Shut up, everything you know about physics is wrong
I confess I don't really understand the details but true ftl would supposedly permit time travel. Not sure if it would be universal dr who time travel or more like primer where you can only go back to the point the machine was turned on. Supposedly this would remain true for ship style ftl or via wormholes displaced at relativistic speeds. The implications would make nukes look like the kind of problem you want have.