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5 of the biggest unsolved mysteries in physics
Yahoo ^ | 1/31/12 | Tecca - Today in Tech

Posted on 01/31/2012 2:06:57 PM PST by NormsRevenge

The mysteries of the universe are as vast and wide as existence itself. Throughout history, mankind has searched and struggled to find the answers tucked away inside the universe and everything we see around us. ..

True, we have yet to come up with the answers to life, the universe, and everything — but oh do we have questions! Solving these mysteries may help to explain not only the creation of the universe, but also how it works, why it works, and possibly how it will end.

1. The Higgs boson

The Higgs boson is a hypothetical particle whose accompanying field is believed to be accountable for giving all other fundamental particles their mass. ..

...

2. Gravity and the mysterious graviton

We've all heard the story of how Newton's observation of an apple falling out of a tree led to his formulation of the law of gravitation.

...

3. Dark matter

Dark matter is a mysterious sort of glue that not only holds galaxies together but is theoretically responsible for their creation. It was initially hypothesized in 1933 to explain mathematical discrepancies while calculating the mass of galaxies; .. Since then, we haven't learned a whole heck of a lot more about dark matter.

...

4. Faster-than-light travel

Admit it — if you've ever watched Han Solo and Chewie take the Millennium Falcon to light speed, or stared in awe the first time you saw the Starship Enterprise jump to maximum warp, you've wanted to see faster-than-light (FTL) travel. ..

...

5. How will it all end?

Assuming the standard model is true, our universe's end will likely all come down to one of three theories, each of which depends upon three things: ..

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Chit/Chat; Conspiracy; Science; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: biggest; mysteries; physics; stringtheory; unsolved
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To: JimRed

As long as you don’t mind throwing away your computer, cell phone, television, microwave, ...


61 posted on 02/02/2012 11:17:05 PM PST by <1/1,000,000th%
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To: Billthedrill

“The Thermos.”

Yeah, I mean, how does it know?


62 posted on 02/02/2012 11:22:53 PM PST by decal (I'm not rude, I don't suffer fools is all.)
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To: JimRed

“The Higgs boson is a hypothetical particle...”

Well, electrons have their pal the positron so I see no reason why there shouldn’t be an equivalent particle to the boson.

I propose we call this particle “the boson’s mate”.


63 posted on 02/02/2012 11:54:10 PM PST by Nik Naym (It's not my fault... I have compulsive smartass disorder.)
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To: Paradox
Because they don't find all the answers they are looking for there.

Because they need more faith. With faith and honesty they will find it. The Bible is amazing beyond our possibility to understand all it reveals.

64 posted on 02/03/2012 12:17:50 AM PST by Bellflower (The LORD is Holy, separated from all sin, perfect, righteous, high and lifted up.)
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To: <1/1,000,000th%
As long as you don’t mind throwing away your computer, cell phone, television, microwave, ...

But, those are not hypothetical!

Isn't it a shame how the misbehavior of a few "scientists" makes guys like me distrust all of them?

65 posted on 02/03/2012 6:54:10 AM PST by JimRed (Excising a cancer before it kills us waters the Tree of Liberty! TERM LIMITS, NOW AND FOREVER!)
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To: Bellflower

Not really, but we’ll just disagree.


66 posted on 02/03/2012 7:58:08 AM PST by Paradox (I want Obama defeated. Period.)
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To: NormsRevenge
Here's my favorite puzzle:

A black hole is something so dense and massive that nothing can get out of it. No matter and no information can pass outward through its event horizon.

The big bang theory posits that at the instant of its beginning, the universe expanded from an infinitely-dense point. This starting point was more massive and dense than any black hole. Yet, here we are.

67 posted on 02/03/2012 8:10:44 AM PST by PapaBear3625 (I'd agree with you, but then we would both be wrong.)
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To: Billthedrill
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy reference. 42 is the answer to the question about life, the universe, and everything. You go volumes before they finally find out what the question was.

That turned out to be "What is eight times seven?" ;-)

Unfortunately, eight times seven is 56.

68 posted on 02/03/2012 8:13:03 AM PST by Mycroft Holmes (Returned for regrooving...)
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To: Mycroft Holmes
Unfortunately, eight times seven is 56.

Yes, it is. that was the point of Adams' joke.

69 posted on 02/03/2012 9:39:38 AM PST by Billthedrill
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To: JimRed

Agreed.


70 posted on 02/03/2012 10:45:09 PM PST by <1/1,000,000th%
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