Scientists can now simulate curved space-time in a lab. When discussing quantum physics, you’ll often hear a the phrase “quantum field theory” thrown about.
This refers to the general idea that quantum particles are actually just localized excited states of a more general quantum field underlying them — a trippy but mathematically useful idea that interacts with Einstein’s classical conception of space-time in ways that are complex, to say that least. Gravity, so says dogma, is the result of curvature in the ineffable medium of space-time, and modern quantum physics says that curved space-time ought to effect the behavior of a hypothetical quantum field somehow. Precisely how they interact is an open question, and answering that question has been described as the holy grail of physics.
It’s currently very difficult to study those interactions in the lab, but that may be about to change. This light-bending experiment proved that space-time curvature affects light. Curving space-time is very difficult to do, synthetically. NASA says puzzling new space drive can generate thrust without propellant. A NASA study has recently concluded that the "Cannae Drive," a disruptive new method of space propulsion, can produce small amounts of thrust without the use of propellant, in apparent discordance with Newton's third law.
According to its inventor, the device can harness microwave radiation inside a resonator, turning electricity into a net thrust. If further verified and perfected, the advance could revolutionize the space industry, dramatically cutting costs for both missions in deep space and satellites in Earth orbit. View all The basic principle behind space propulsion is very simple: for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Use a rocket engine to throw mass one way, get propelled the other way. But now, a NASA study has concluded that a new type of spacecraft propulsion is able to generate thrust without propellant. According to its inventor, US scientist Guido Fetta, the thruster works as a resonating cavity for microwave radiation. Lockheed Martin Pursuing Compact Nuclear Fusion Reactor Concept. PALMDALE, Calif., Oct. 15, 2014 – The Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] Skunk Works® team is working on a new compact fusion reactor (CFR) that can be developed and deployed in as little as ten years.
Currently, there are several patents pending that cover their approach. While fusion itself is not new, the Skunk Works has built on more than 60 years of fusion research and investment to develop an approach that offers a significant reduction in size compared to mainstream efforts. “Our compact fusion concept combines several alternative magnetic confinement approaches, taking the best parts of each, and offers a 90 percent size reduction over previous concepts,” said Tom McGuire, compact fusion lead for the Skunk Works’ Revolutionary Technology Programs. “The smaller size will allow us to design, build and test the CFR in less than a year.” After completing several of these design-build-test cycles, the team anticipates being able to produce a prototype in five years. This is What Happens When You Run Water Through a 24hz Sine Wave. What!?
How is this even possible? Because science, my friends. Brusspup’s (previously) latest video explores what happens when a stream of water is exposed to an audio speaker producing a loud 24hz sine wave. If I understand correctly the camera frame rate has been adjusted to the match the vibration of the air (so, 24fps) thus creating … magic zigzagging water. Or something. Forget WiFi, Its LiFi: Internet Through Lightbulbs.
Whether you’re using wireless internet in a coffee shop, stealing it from the guy next door, or competing for bandwidth at a conference, you’ve probably gotten frustrated at the slow speeds you face when more than one device is tapped into the network. As more and more people—and their many devices—access wireless internet, clogged airwaves are going to make it increasingly difficult to latch onto a reliable signal. But radio waves are just one part of the spectrum that can carry our data. What if we could use other waves to surf the internet? One German physicist, Harald Haas, has come up with a solution he calls “data through illumination”—taking the fiber out of fiber optics by sending data through an LED lightbulb that varies in intensity faster than the human eye can follow.
It’s the same idea behind infrared remote controls, but far more powerful. Photo (cc) via otto-otto.com. Imagining the Tenth Dimension - A Book by Rob Bryanton.