I know that we are in the midst of the most contentious political season in my lifetime, but I thought it was worth mentioning that there has been one earth-shaking scientific discovery in the last two weeks that snuck by with barely a blip.
No really, that is exactly what it was. A set of BLIPS that proved Einstein's last theory of the existence of gravitational waves was correct.
The scientific world has been going crazy! Just to put this into perspective, this could be the most significant scientific confirmation in our lifetime and quite possibly may turn out to be our next new energy source - gravitational waves. These are cosmic waves that transport energy through space.
From what little I have read, Albert Einstein vacillated for years about whether these waves even existed. Imagined and denied and reimagined by Einstein until his death in 1955, scientists finally have reported that they have detected gravitational waves and proved that Einstein was right all along.
Gravitational Waves Detected, Confirming Einstein’s Theory
Now that we know they do they exist, if we can figure out how to harness this source of energy transfer just like we have with the petroleum, electricity, wind, water, nuclear, and solar energy sources, this could actually be the new energy source that we have been waiting to find - non-toxic, renewable, and plentiful. And an energy source that could propel us to the far reaches of the universe.
Now I don't pretend to understand most of this, but according to my brother who knows these things, this is really big, huge, monumental news.
Now back to your regularly scheduled Trump-a-thon...
No really, that is exactly what it was. A set of BLIPS that proved Einstein's last theory of the existence of gravitational waves was correct.
The scientific world has been going crazy! Just to put this into perspective, this could be the most significant scientific confirmation in our lifetime and quite possibly may turn out to be our next new energy source - gravitational waves. These are cosmic waves that transport energy through space.
From what little I have read, Albert Einstein vacillated for years about whether these waves even existed. Imagined and denied and reimagined by Einstein until his death in 1955, scientists finally have reported that they have detected gravitational waves and proved that Einstein was right all along.
Gravitational Waves Detected, Confirming Einstein’s Theory
Now that we know they do they exist, if we can figure out how to harness this source of energy transfer just like we have with the petroleum, electricity, wind, water, nuclear, and solar energy sources, this could actually be the new energy source that we have been waiting to find - non-toxic, renewable, and plentiful. And an energy source that could propel us to the far reaches of the universe.
Now I don't pretend to understand most of this, but according to my brother who knows these things, this is really big, huge, monumental news.
Now back to your regularly scheduled Trump-a-thon...
"Now back to your regularly scheduled Trump-a-thon..."
ReplyDeleteCan we go back to Einstein, please?
"Can we go back to Einstein, please?"
ReplyDeleteSure, Kit.
Energy = mass x the speed of light squared..
Also, "imagination is more important than knowledge."
And if that didn't leave you distracted, since you are the resident guru of the MCU, if- based on how AV2 ended- THIS is where Marvel is ultimately heading, count me out! I would not approve!
Rustbelt, That would be a nightmare!
ReplyDeleteBev, I'm amazed at the pace of scientific discoveries these days. We really are living in an amazing age
ReplyDeleteGiven that it took us decades to detect these waves I'm curious about how long it will take us to figure out how to harness their energy.
ReplyDeleteI'm blinded, pretty sure by science!
ReplyDeleteAnthony, think the pace depends on whether those guys who boxed up the Ark of the Covenant get put in charge, or someone like Jeff Bezos.
EP - Because the person/persons who develops the technology to harness gravity will be ruler of the world. Or maybe some benevolent alien species will just give us the technology...it could happen.
ReplyDeleteBev, I can sort-of control gravity already. All I have to do is go to my favorite restaurant and I can make gravity double... at least, it seems that way. ;-)
ReplyDeleteSeriously though, could you imagine being able to negate gravity? Flying fricken cars!!!
Interesting news here:
ReplyDeleteWASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee sent a letter to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday saying they will not hold hearings on a Supreme Court nominee until the next president is sworn in next January.
Committee members wrote that they wanted, “To ensure the American people are not deprived of the opportunity to engage in a full and robust debate over the type of jurist they wish to decide some of the most critical issues of our time,” according to a statement provided by the panel.
Good for them! I remember when the Democrats all said they wouldn't review nominees from GW Bush and W Bush if they had any. I'm glad they're going to return the favor, and I'm glad they're doing it in committee so this isn't a whole Senate issue.
Flying cars are soooo 21st Century. If we could harness these waves, I envision teleportation and time travel!
ReplyDeleteBut, but, but Andrew, that's just unconstitutional. It says right there that the President gets to nominate and the Senate has to approve his nomination and vote right away! Or it's racism.
ReplyDeleteActually the other issue is that those wacky Dems changed the rules 'cause they were always going to hold the leadership in the Senate - mandatory 60 votes to approve. The Republican leadership did not change the rules...
If the Repubs change their minds which they could, they can always "bork" the crap out of the nominee, just for fun.
There is also this idea that the President can bypass the Senate and actually make a recess appointment to the Supreme Court. My understanding is that he can only make a temporary appointment. Sandra Day O'Connor has been floated as a temp SC justice, if necessary.
ReplyDeleteSee, Kit, no mention of the "T-word"...
ReplyDelete*Shrugs* Despite what talk radio likes to claim, Republicans denying Obama anything is par for the course.
ReplyDeleteThe interesting question is if Obama can find a nominee which will help the Democrats in the 2016 presidential race.
Does he go ultra-hard left and set liberal hearts aflutter or does he pick a genuinely strong, moderate candidate and then soberly declaim Republicans' unwillingness to put said person in office.
I think the second option would be politically smarter, especially if that person were a woman or a minority (or both).
>> I remember when the Democrats all said they wouldn't review nominees from GW Bush and W Bush if they had any. I'm glad they're going to return the favor...>>
ReplyDeleteFor worse than better, enough of the same Senators are still around to return the favor.
Interesting on both the discovery and the Senate. The travel possibilities for the former remind me a bit of Mass Effect, where the foundation of interstellar travel was a force that alters the mass of objects. Interesting stuff if things can progress like that! Sci Fi hits on interesting stuff sometimes, huh?
ReplyDeleteAs for the Senate do you think they'll be able to do this intelligently or will this backfire in Obama's favor? If he takes Anthony's option 2 I can see that happening. On a similar off topic note has anyone else noticed an uptick in social media commentary about evil white racism lately? It's hitting my corner of it, even among people who normally don't have activist streaks, so it seems a little unusual. Did I miss something, is this a possible byproduct of Trump, or is this just odd timing?
- Daniel
Daniel, I think the GOP can handle this. Whether they will or not, that I cannot say. But I get the feeling that interest in politics is at an all tie low and what little there is seems to be expended on lamenting the candidates for President.
ReplyDeleteAlso, if the GOP is smart, they will start putting together montages of the various Democrats refusing to vote on Bush appointees and get that out there so that the public just sees this as a standard game.
On racism, I see a huge push by the left to try to revive the issue, but I don't see it taking hold. I think it is a dead issue.
That's what they need to do in order to neutralize the Democrats' charges. I'm just not sure they have the presence of mind to actually do it. That would explain the uptick as well but I think you're right about the public as a whole. It just seems unusual when I see people who normally don't do activist stuff chime in.
ReplyDelete- Daniel
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