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General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Udie on April 29, 2004, 11:29:44 AM

Title: The Elegant Universe
Post by: Udie on April 29, 2004, 11:29:44 AM

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/elegant/program.html


 I watched this 3 hour NOVA on PBS's website this week.  What an awesome show!   I finally understand the primise of string theory!!  The author does a really good job of explaning this stuff in layman's terms.  I can finally visualize "space/time"  I was never able to comprehend that 4th dimension but he showed it and explained it so that even I can comprehend it.  Strings may be what finally gets science to the unification theory, the theory of everything. Though non of it can be proven or disproven at this point according to the show.  So we may never know for sure.


 Anybody here know about string theory?  There sure were a bunch of people in that other physics thread a few weeks ago.  Watch the show and let's talk about it.  Some really cool stuff in there.  They think we live in an 11 dimension universe, figure that one out!  Though most of the dimensions are on a sub-atomic scale.  It talks about how they now think that electro-magnatism is stronger than gravity because gravity may be leaking in to other dimensions.  The show gave a possible explanation for the big bang. 2 dimensions coming in to contact or something.  

 Anyway, it was a very facinating show.  I've watched it 2 or 3 times this week and will probably watch it some more.  Anybody read the book?

Title: The Elegant Universe
Post by: ravells on April 29, 2004, 11:41:53 AM

Fantastic!

Thanks for the link, Udie.

Ravs

Title: The Elegant Universe
Post by: Curval on April 29, 2004, 11:42:14 AM

String theory:

A piece of string walks into a bar and orders a beer.  The bartender says "You...string...get out of here, we don't serve your type in here"

The piece of string steps outside and begins to ruffle himself up.  He ties himself into a small knot and then rubs himself against a nearby barbed wire fense.  He is a real mess.

He then goes back into the bar and orders another beer.

The bartender looks at him and says "Hey, aren't you that piece of string I kicked out of here a few minutes ago?"

The piece of string looks at the bartender and with a straight face states,

"No, I'm a frayed knot"

BADA BOOM

Title: The Elegant Universe
Post by: Sandman on April 29, 2004, 11:43:57 AM

Thanx Udie... I will have to watch this.

Title: The Elegant Universe
Post by: Udie on April 29, 2004, 12:22:01 PM

If you like thinking about this stuff you'll like this show.  I just wish I could understand the math behind it all.

Title: The Elegant Universe
Post by: Udie on April 30, 2004, 09:36:12 AM

any of you guys check this out last night?

Title: The Elegant Universe
Post by: Creamo on April 30, 2004, 09:55:16 AM

I missed it, and didn't read this post till this morning. Not sure if PBS broadcasts the same programming at Charter Cable in NV at PST either. I do know this is some very interesting stuff if it's related to what I have read.

I read Stephen Hawkings "Brief History of Time" a couple times, and then bought it on tape to try and get just the jist of it finally. Nope, I didn't, but it's great stuff. You have to think in "vast", almost incomprehensible means. I finally gave up but enjoyed it.

Title: The Elegant Universe
Post by: Sandman on April 30, 2004, 10:08:06 AM

I watched the first hour last night. It was mostly background on earlier theories and laws. Started to watch the second hour, but started to fall asleep (long day).

I'll watch the rest this weekend.

Title: The Elegant Universe
Post by: Udie on April 30, 2004, 10:18:09 AM

I've got that on audio book too Creamo, well most of it.  It cuts out when he starts talking about black holes (the best part!)  Generally I just listen to it and go "wow! far out maaan"  but after hearing it about 100 times it has started to sink in.  This show helped me understand a lot of what Hawking was saying too.


[edit]

 Creamo,

 Don't know if you clicked the link or not but you can watch all 3 hours on that website.


Sandman,

 The second hour is when it gets good :) The 3rd hour makes me go "huh?" that's when they get in to the extra dimensions and stuff. What we see may actually be a LOT different than what's actually out there a milimeter away from my face! :confused:

Title: The Elegant Universe
Post by: Sandman on April 30, 2004, 10:21:08 AM

Yeah... that's what I expected would happen... the good stuff would start coming in the second hour.

Title: The Elegant Universe
Post by: Otto on April 30, 2004, 12:57:17 PM

Great book...., great show......  I think you can buy it at the PBS web site.

Title: The Elegant Universe
Post by: AKS\/\/ulfe on April 30, 2004, 01:55:11 PM

I have a dial up modem so can't view those segments, will this show be on again tonite?
-SW

Title: The Elegant Universe
Post by: Saurdaukar on April 30, 2004, 02:19:46 PM

Thanks for the link - good stuff.

Title: The Elegant Universe
Post by: Udie on April 30, 2004, 02:20:52 PM

i didn't see it on TV SW  I watched it online.

Title: The Elegant Universe
Post by: SaburoS on April 30, 2004, 02:53:31 PM

Thnx, Udie!! :)

Title: The Elegant Universe
Post by: Octavius on April 30, 2004, 03:10:44 PM

Brian Green has a new book out.  I forgot the title, but I think it's a sort of a follow up ot the Elegant Universe.    I DL'd the whole program via bittorrent.  I enjoyed it - too bad they went light on the math.  A friend of mine, a physics major, wants to get into string theory.  High level math is insaaaaane... proofs