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MathsIsFun

Administrator

Registered: 2005-01-21

Posts: 7,713

Six Dimensional Universe?

George Sparling of the University of Pittsburgh has proposed a six-dimensional solution to space-time. I only started to read it, but couldn't wait to post this.

Read more: http://www.physorg.com/news96027669.html

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"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..."  - Leon M. Lederman

Zhylliolom

Real Member

Registered: 2005-09-05

Posts: 412

Re: Six Dimensional Universe?

Darn, can't access the actual paper for free. I'd be interested in seeing it. I'll ask my advisor if he has access to it, he's big on mathematical physics like this.

MathsIsFun

Administrator

Registered: 2005-01-21

Posts: 7,713

Re: Six Dimensional Universe?

I imagine the paper is very heavy. But it *may* be a step towards unlocking some of the mysteries of the universe.

The general idea is very appealling: 3 dimensions of space, 3 of time, all in 3 different flavors! Almost magical.

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"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..."  - Leon M. Lederman

Zhylliolom

Real Member

Registered: 2005-09-05

Posts: 412

Re: Six Dimensional Universe?

Yeah, it's probably somewhat intense. But in our class we've talked about topics mentioned in the news article, and professors love to talk about their research interests, so I'm sure I can make an office visit to explain anything I don't understand. But that's only if I get to actually see the paper. Oh well. The concept of extra time-like dimensions is certainly interesting.

Stanley_Marsh

Member

Registered: 2006-12-13

Posts: 345

Re: Six Dimensional Universe?

WOW,  They believe symmetry is the key to everything.

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Numbers are the essence of the Universe

Anthony.R.Brown

Banned

Registered: 2006-11-16

Posts: 516

Re: Six Dimensional Universe?

My Theory is that there is an Infinite Dimensional Solution to Space and Time!

A.R.B

Identity

Member

Registered: 2007-04-18

Posts: 934

Re: Six Dimensional Universe?

Theoretical Physics can give lots of answers to the riddles of the universe, but I don't think it will ever answer the most fundamental of questions: Why?

Kurre

Member

Registered: 2006-07-18

Posts: 280

Re: Six Dimensional Universe?

the answer to that is simple:
42
(ok, old, i know,  but still funny! )

U7109

Real Member

Registered: 2007-03-19

Posts: 485

Re: Six Dimensional Universe?

Yup, what Kurre said

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"Reality leaves a lot to the imagination," ~ John Lennon

Anthony.R.Brown

Banned

Registered: 2006-11-16

Posts: 516

Re: Six Dimensional Universe?

What came first! the Question? or the Answer?

A.R.B

luca-deltodesco

Member

Registered: 2006-05-05

Posts: 1,470

Re: Six Dimensional Universe?

example: sometihng like gravity, you imght argue, that first the question ' what makes things fall ' was posed, and then gravity found to be the answer, but you might argue that the answer ' gravity ' already existed, but the question was yet to be posed for it to become its answer.

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The Beginning Of All Things To End.
The End Of All Things To Come.

Anthony.R.Brown

Banned

Registered: 2006-11-16

Posts: 516

Re: Six Dimensional Universe?

What came first! the Question? the Answer? or the Thought?

A.R.B

Kurre

Member

Registered: 2006-07-18

Posts: 280

Re: Six Dimensional Universe?

they never came, they have always existed. We only found them...

Identity

Member

Registered: 2007-04-18

Posts: 934

Re: Six Dimensional Universe?

That's like saying God has always existed, only that we haven't yet found him.

mathsyperson

Moderator

Registered: 2005-06-22

Posts: 4,900

Re: Six Dimensional Universe?

How?
Gravity is a scientifically documented phenomenon. We can predict it, we can observe its effects, and we know from calculations (and common sense) that it's been around forever.

If the existence of God is ever proven, then you can state a similar argument saying that he must have also been around forever, but you can't do that until you show that he's around now.

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Why did the vector cross the road?
It wanted to be normal.

Anthony.R.Brown

Banned

Registered: 2006-11-16

Posts: 516

Re: Six Dimensional Universe?

To mathsyperson

Quot: " Gravity is a scientifically documented phenomenon. "

A.R.B

Can you prove what Gravity is!?

Because to some Super Aliens! it may not have any effect on them!

mathsyperson

Moderator

Registered: 2005-06-22

Posts: 4,900

Re: Six Dimensional Universe?

No, but when it comes down to it, we can't really prove what anything is.
The important thing is that we know what gravity does.

Your 'super aliens' would be immune to gravity only if they had no mass.

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Why did the vector cross the road?
It wanted to be normal.

Stanley_Marsh

Member

Registered: 2006-12-13

Posts: 345

Re: Six Dimensional Universe?

Can you prove what Gravity is!?

Errr,hmmm. They believe any force is transmitted by particle. But gravity seems to be an exception.So they assume that there's a kind of particle that transmitts gravity . But they havent proven its existence yet.

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Numbers are the essence of the Universe

Anthony.R.Brown

Banned

Registered: 2006-11-16

Posts: 516

Re: Six Dimensional Universe?

To mathsyperson

Quote: "Your 'super aliens' would be immune to gravity only if they had no mass."

A.R.B

But again! mass is only what we know it to be! to alien's it may be nothing!!

mathsyperson

Moderator

Registered: 2005-06-22

Posts: 4,900

Re: Six Dimensional Universe?

If they live in the same universe as us, then they have to follow the same fundamental laws as us. Aliens must have mass, no matter how super they are.

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Why did the vector cross the road?
It wanted to be normal.

Anthony.R.Brown

Banned

Registered: 2006-11-16

Posts: 516

Re: Six Dimensional Universe?

To mathsyperson

Quote: " If they live in the same universe as us, then they have to follow the same fundamental laws as us. Aliens must have mass, no matter how super they are. "

A.R.B

The above Quote of yours! is the Biggest Mistake-Quote you will ever Make!!.............................

Sekky

Member

Registered: 2007-01-12

Posts: 181

Re: Six Dimensional Universe?

To mathsyperson

The above Quote of yours! is the Biggest Mistake-Quote you will ever Make!!.............................

Stop trolling, everybody is sick of seeing you try to controvert fact. Maybe if you stopped believing you're somehow more enlightened than people who have been studying science their entire life you would actually learn something.

Ricky

Moderator

Registered: 2005-12-04

Posts: 3,791

Re: Six Dimensional Universe?

Often, it is the questioning of a fundamental assumption which produces science.  There is still a lot we don't know about space, time, and matter.  We know it is possible to convert matter to energy and back.  Perhaps aliens could be massless in such a way?

When you're talking about an unknown, making any assumptions can be a mistake.

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"In the real world, this would be a problem.  But in mathematics, we can just define a place where this problem doesn't exist.  So we'll go ahead and do that now..."

luca-deltodesco

Member

Registered: 2006-05-05

Posts: 1,470

Re: Six Dimensional Universe?

yes ricky fine, but its anthony's attitude is so terrible, and its not that hes questioning fundamentals, he's not, hes telling you its wrong, and telling you he is right.

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The Beginning Of All Things To End.
The End Of All Things To Come.

Devantè

Real Member

Registered: 2006-07-14

Posts: 6,400

Re: Six Dimensional Universe?

What came first! the Question? or the Answer?

A.R.B

I can tell you that there are more questions than there are answers, as the human mind has always wondered what the solutions and answers to things are.

Also, your question makes little sense. Please explain what you mean; A human mind that wonders about the outside world, or just a caveman that once said 'Why is the sky blue?'?