In string theory, physicists tell us that the subatomic particles that make up our universe are created within ten spatial dimensions (plus an eleventh dimension of "time") by the vibrations of exquisitely small "superstrings". The average person has barely gotten used to the idea of there being four dimensions: how can we possibly imagine the tenth?
Imagining the Tenth Dimension
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Friday, July 07, 2006
Astrophysics taking off on Superman
It is the flying that seems to baffle everyone.
How, exactly, does Superman fly? Or does he, really?
(...)
"The flying always bothered me,'' admits Richard Muller, a professor of astrophysics at Cal and a Superman fan. "I think what he really does is leap and guide himself along the air currents. Or, if you can't really rule out flying, maybe he has a mechanism for somehow forcing air backward -- what if the pores on his skin eject microscopic amounts of excess moisture, like sweat?''
Uh, OK. The real point is that the physicists get it.
(...)
full article here
How, exactly, does Superman fly? Or does he, really?
(...)
"The flying always bothered me,'' admits Richard Muller, a professor of astrophysics at Cal and a Superman fan. "I think what he really does is leap and guide himself along the air currents. Or, if you can't really rule out flying, maybe he has a mechanism for somehow forcing air backward -- what if the pores on his skin eject microscopic amounts of excess moisture, like sweat?''
Uh, OK. The real point is that the physicists get it.
(...)
full article here
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