io9 
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San Francisco, 4:10 PM
Sun Dec 20
13 posts in the last 24 hours
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11/17/09
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11/17/09
Just as long as one of them doesn't start macking on Dr Crusher. #alienlegion
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11/17/09
I am both horrified beyond words, and strangely intrigued.
Sounds like some sort of horrible train wreck. A horrible, bearded wreck of horribleness and hair. #alienlegion
11/17/09
10/26/09
--Anton Zeilinger
Strictly speaking, this isn’t quite true. Vedantic philosophy, developed in northern India / eastern Pakistan at least 5,000 years ago, suggested the answer to this question. Namely, that the universe itself is consciousness; in fact, that it is a single consciousness broken into multiplicity; that there is a single source of undifferentiated energy from which all other phenomena divides into differentiation.
The Sanskrit phrase "Tat tvam asi," translated as "Thou art that," (sometimes more loosely translated as "All this is that") describes the relationship between matter and energy. According to this view, there is only one thing (undifferentiated energy) and all physical phenomena (matter as well as the multiple forms energy takes on but remains energy) are part and parcel of that one thing. Extending this idea further, Vedantic philosophy suggests that because all phenomena is energy, and at its core this energy is all-pervading and interconnected, all matter (which is differentiated energy) is, in its way, also connected.
One of the other major explorations Vedantic philosophy is the relationship between subject and object. In short, it rejects the notion that the subject and object are separate (it’s all energy observing energy, and a single energy at that), and that the only difference between the observer and what is being observed is the intellect that thinks the distance between objects necessarily means the objects are in no way connected. (Heisenberg eat your heart out!) This in no way implies that the distance isn’t real or that the objects are not physically separate, but rather that the perception that there’s no connection between physical objects created from a single energy is the ultimate truth. The confusion for man about this relationship between subject and object has to do with the fact that we can only relate to other physical objects through the use of sense organs (sight, sound, touch, smell, taste), and that this limitation forces the perception of separateness when one doesn’t actually exist (in the larger context).
Of course, it’s important to remember that, according to this philosophy, consciousness has more in common with the energy from which physical reality springs than with physical reality itself. The purpose of yoga and meditation, therefore, is to help consciousness experience the reality behind physical phenomena.
Incidentally, when you read about eastern mystics who say that this world is illusion (maya), they don’t mean it isn’t real, that it isn’t physical in a way that we can interact with it. They mean only that what we see and feel and hear is not the ultimate reality, which is actually this pure, undifferentiated energy that pervades the universe.
If one is familiar with eastern mysticism, it can be somewhat shocking to read the writings of early quantum physicists. Because they didn’t know exactly what it was they were seeing, they often described the results of their experiments using metaphor. Comparing the language they used to that of some of the ancient observations of the practitioners of Vedantic philosophy can give one an eerie sense of déjà vu. I don’t have an explanation for this similarity, but I’m deeply fascinated by it. #physics
10/26/09
10/27/09
10/25/09
10/25/09
If God created us and the universe, who created God?
If God was not created what would exist where we and the universe currently exist? Nothing? Something? What?
I don't know. Now I can't sleep. #physics
10/26/09
[en.wikipedia.org] (not the best source, but its an introduction) #physics
10/26/09
10/25/09
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10/25/09
The obvious flaw is this: if the laws varied, than simple physics like red and blue shifting wouldn't work on a cosmic scale...maybe
But, what if the laws translated? Sort of like a universal translator. The laws translate into a universal language beyond the Galaxy and re convert back into another galaxy specific set of laws once they interact with a new galaxy?
In other words, what if our known laws of physics are meta-laws to the REAL laws?
Pass the blunt dude. #physics
10/25/09
Meta-physical laws are for squares, man. #physics
10/25/09
10/26/09
10/27/09
10/27/09
God! EAT ME! #physics
10/25/09
Unfortunately, there were many moments plagued with sound difficulties. Also, the panel host was acting like an idiot when he introduced the panelists, as if he was introducing TV or movie celebrities.
Thankfully, he changed to a more fitting tone once the panel discussion started.
I suggest to anyone interested in watching this to skip the first 15 minutes or so, because that time was devoted to introductions by sponsors of the event. #physics
10/25/09