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Why simplicity works
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Julian
Oct 15, 2021, 3:29:38 PM10/15/21
to
Does the existence of a multiverse hold the key for why nature’s laws
seem so simple?
It’s May 1964 and, on a low hillside in New Jersey, the physicists
Robert Woodrow Wilson and Arno Allan Penzias are listening in on the
Universe. They are standing beneath what looks like a gargantuan ear
trumpet attached to a garden shed: the Holmdel Horn Antenna, built by
Bell Laboratories to investigate microwaves as an alternative to radio
waves for telecommunication. When interest in microwave communication
waned, Bell lent out the Holmdel horn to interested scientists.
Penzias and Wilson were interested. Both aged around 30, they planned to
map the sky with microwaves. But they were baffled: when they pointed
the horn at a dark region beyond the galaxy and only sparsely populated
with stars, instead of the silence they expected, they detected a kind
of background hiss – a hiss that filled the entire sky.
Meanwhile, the physicist Robert H Dicke was working on a related puzzle.
Two decades earlier, Dicke had invented the microwave detector. Now he
and his lab were trying to develop sensitive instruments to test the
cosmological predictions that emerged from Albert Einstein’s general
theory of relativity, particularly how it related to Edwin Hubble’s
astonishing discovery that the Universe is expanding. The reigning,
steady-state theory claimed that the Universe had always been expanding,
balanced by a continuous creation of new matter. The rival theorists,
including Dicke, took expansion at its face value, running it backwards
in time to propose that, about 14 billion years ago, the Universe burst
into existence in a cataclysmic explosion from a very tiny point.
An exploding universe should have left a uniform faint cloud of
microwave radiation, which Dicke’s team was determined to find. News of
the group’s efforts reached Penzias and Wilson, prompting Penzias to
give Dicke a call. Over a brownbag lunch, Dicke’s colleagues recall him
picking up the receiver, repeating phrases such as ‘horn antenna’ and
nodding. After hanging up, he turned to his group and said: ‘Well boys,
we’ve been scooped.’ Dicke realised that Penzias and Wilson had
discovered the Big Bang....
https://aeon.co/essays/why-is-simplicity-so-unreasonably-effective-at-scientific-explanation?
seem so simple?
It’s May 1964 and, on a low hillside in New Jersey, the physicists
Robert Woodrow Wilson and Arno Allan Penzias are listening in on the
Universe. They are standing beneath what looks like a gargantuan ear
trumpet attached to a garden shed: the Holmdel Horn Antenna, built by
Bell Laboratories to investigate microwaves as an alternative to radio
waves for telecommunication. When interest in microwave communication
waned, Bell lent out the Holmdel horn to interested scientists.
Penzias and Wilson were interested. Both aged around 30, they planned to
map the sky with microwaves. But they were baffled: when they pointed
the horn at a dark region beyond the galaxy and only sparsely populated
with stars, instead of the silence they expected, they detected a kind
of background hiss – a hiss that filled the entire sky.
Meanwhile, the physicist Robert H Dicke was working on a related puzzle.
Two decades earlier, Dicke had invented the microwave detector. Now he
and his lab were trying to develop sensitive instruments to test the
cosmological predictions that emerged from Albert Einstein’s general
theory of relativity, particularly how it related to Edwin Hubble’s
astonishing discovery that the Universe is expanding. The reigning,
steady-state theory claimed that the Universe had always been expanding,
balanced by a continuous creation of new matter. The rival theorists,
including Dicke, took expansion at its face value, running it backwards
in time to propose that, about 14 billion years ago, the Universe burst
into existence in a cataclysmic explosion from a very tiny point.
An exploding universe should have left a uniform faint cloud of
microwave radiation, which Dicke’s team was determined to find. News of
the group’s efforts reached Penzias and Wilson, prompting Penzias to
give Dicke a call. Over a brownbag lunch, Dicke’s colleagues recall him
picking up the receiver, repeating phrases such as ‘horn antenna’ and
nodding. After hanging up, he turned to his group and said: ‘Well boys,
we’ve been scooped.’ Dicke realised that Penzias and Wilson had
discovered the Big Bang....
https://aeon.co/essays/why-is-simplicity-so-unreasonably-effective-at-scientific-explanation?
Noah Sombrero
Oct 15, 2021, 3:39:41 PM10/15/21
to
On Fri, 15 Oct 2021 20:29:35 +0100, Julian <julia...@gmail.com>
wrote:
The theory of relativity is simple
The reasoning behind why there should be a faint cloud of microwave
radiation left from the big band is simple
The reason why this article seems to explain things so simply is that
it has been tremendously dumbed down.
--
Noah Sombrero
wrote:
The reasoning behind why there should be a faint cloud of microwave
radiation left from the big band is simple
The reason why this article seems to explain things so simply is that
it has been tremendously dumbed down.
--
Noah Sombrero
Noah Sombrero
Oct 15, 2021, 4:01:46 PM10/15/21
to
On Fri, 15 Oct 2021 15:39:38 -0400, Noah Sombrero <fed...@fea.st>
wrote:
For instance, microwave radiation is:
"Microwave radiation lies close to radio-frequency radiation in the
electromagnetic spectrum, with operating frequencies in the 900–2450
MHz range."
Radio frequencies are otherwise known as infrared light. So,
microwave radiation is really light with long wave lengths.
So, rather than saying that, the author used a phrase that would
arouse little confusion. We all know what microwaves are. Almost all
of us have a contraption for creating such in our houses. Except that
mostly, we do not know that microwaves are really light which our eyes
do not equip us to see. As are radio waves.
So mr physicist, exactly why should the big bang still be emitting
long wave light (why long wave?) so long after the bang?
--
Noah Sombrero
wrote:
"Microwave radiation lies close to radio-frequency radiation in the
electromagnetic spectrum, with operating frequencies in the 900–2450
MHz range."
Radio frequencies are otherwise known as infrared light. So,
microwave radiation is really light with long wave lengths.
So, rather than saying that, the author used a phrase that would
arouse little confusion. We all know what microwaves are. Almost all
of us have a contraption for creating such in our houses. Except that
mostly, we do not know that microwaves are really light which our eyes
do not equip us to see. As are radio waves.
So mr physicist, exactly why should the big bang still be emitting
long wave light (why long wave?) so long after the bang?
--
Noah Sombrero
Love
Oct 16, 2021, 9:54:11 AM10/16/21
to
In article <ttmjmgdo2iii43bim...@4ax.com>, fed...@fea.st says...
You say "dumbed down" then use a grade 3
exposition of the EM spectrum to show how
much it has been dumbed down?
Frakking hilarious.
--
Love
exposition of the EM spectrum to show how
much it has been dumbed down?
Frakking hilarious.
--
Love
Noah Sombrero
Oct 16, 2021, 10:03:46 AM10/16/21
to
In any case, the real gloss went to theory of relativity and why there
should be any low bandwidth light waves. It is in the math of course.
Far beyond the reach of us lower types.
>Frakking hilarious.
--
Noah Sombrero
DMB
Oct 16, 2021, 10:43:53 AM10/16/21
to
On Saturday, 16 October 2021 at 08:03:46 UTC-6, Noah Sombrero wrote:
...
...
> >You say "dumbed down" then use a grade 3
> >exposition of the EM spectrum to show how
> >much it has been dumbed down?
> Grade 3? Why then say microwave radiation instead of light waves?
> In any case, the real gloss went to theory of relativity and why there
> should be any low bandwidth light waves. It is in the math of course.
> Far beyond the reach of us lower types.
Lower types? I beg your pardon!
> >exposition of the EM spectrum to show how
> >much it has been dumbed down?
> Grade 3? Why then say microwave radiation instead of light waves?
> In any case, the real gloss went to theory of relativity and why there
> should be any low bandwidth light waves. It is in the math of course.
> Far beyond the reach of us lower types.
Wilson
Oct 16, 2021, 10:46:36 AM10/16/21
to
Noah Sombrero
Oct 16, 2021, 10:49:38 AM10/16/21
to
On Sat, 16 Oct 2021 10:03:44 -0400, Noah Sombrero <fed...@fea.st>
Really, why do we need separate names for
wifi
radio waves
microwaves
When they really are all different wave lengths of light? And cable
tv, cable internet are really light waves that pass through fiber
optic cables.
My suspicion is that different names for things adds some mystique and
suggests that something new has been invented. New technology,
innovation. Buzz words so the sales guys can make their pitch more
potent.
Besides needing to explain again, after the 3rd grade, that light has
all these various band widths, but is really the same thing, photons
traveling through space. And why a radio waves can travel through
buildings, but visible light cannot.
--
Noah Sombrero
wifi
radio waves
microwaves
When they really are all different wave lengths of light? And cable
tv, cable internet are really light waves that pass through fiber
optic cables.
My suspicion is that different names for things adds some mystique and
suggests that something new has been invented. New technology,
innovation. Buzz words so the sales guys can make their pitch more
potent.
Besides needing to explain again, after the 3rd grade, that light has
all these various band widths, but is really the same thing, photons
traveling through space. And why a radio waves can travel through
buildings, but visible light cannot.
--
Noah Sombrero
Noah Sombrero
Oct 16, 2021, 10:50:59 AM10/16/21
to
On Sat, 16 Oct 2021 07:43:52 -0700 (PDT), DMB <sgma...@gmail.com>
wrote:
You are an upper type?
--
Noah Sombrero
wrote:
--
Noah Sombrero
Noah Sombrero
Oct 16, 2021, 10:52:35 AM10/16/21
to
requires microwave residue of the big bang. That does not make me
dominated.
--
Noah Sombrero
Love
Oct 16, 2021, 10:58:15 AM10/16/21
to
In article <nmmlmg51f0eio5t77...@4ax.com>, fed...@fea.st says...
Because "light" means "visible light" in
common parlance, and because that distinction
is important enough descriptively since one
uses a different type of telescope to observe
microwave radiation than one uses to observe
visible (or near-visible) radiation. It
helps tell the story.
>In any case, the real gloss went to theory of relativity and why there
>should be any low bandwidth light waves. It is in the math of course.
>Far beyond the reach of us lower types.
Lower types = dumb ones. Check. Got it.
And BTW, it isn't "low bandwidth" waves. It's
low frequency (or long wavelength) waves.
--
Love
common parlance, and because that distinction
is important enough descriptively since one
uses a different type of telescope to observe
microwave radiation than one uses to observe
visible (or near-visible) radiation. It
helps tell the story.
>In any case, the real gloss went to theory of relativity and why there
>should be any low bandwidth light waves. It is in the math of course.
>Far beyond the reach of us lower types.
And BTW, it isn't "low bandwidth" waves. It's
low frequency (or long wavelength) waves.
--
Love
Noah Sombrero
Oct 16, 2021, 11:02:15 AM10/16/21
to
simplicity of the way physics describes things. Not so simple was my
response.
>>In any case, the real gloss went to theory of relativity and why there
>>should be any low bandwidth light waves. It is in the math of course.
>>Far beyond the reach of us lower types.
>
>Lower types = dumb ones. Check. Got it.
>And BTW, it isn't "low bandwidth" waves. It's
>low frequency (or long wavelength) waves.
--
Noah Sombrero
Wilson
Oct 16, 2021, 11:11:44 AM10/16/21
to
worship.
Noah Sombrero
Oct 16, 2021, 11:18:29 AM10/16/21
to
higher math. Not one word of domination or worship. That is all in
your mind.
--
Noah Sombrero
Julian
Oct 16, 2021, 2:33:35 PM10/16/21
to
I don't know how people can continue
to read him.
Noah Sombrero
Oct 16, 2021, 2:57:39 PM10/16/21
to
On Sat, 16 Oct 2021 19:33:33 +0100, Julian <julia...@gmail.com>
wrote:
Yes, perhaps it does have something to do with the stomach.
--
Noah Sombrero
wrote:
--
Noah Sombrero
Kentucky Jelly Buddha
Oct 16, 2021, 6:30:17 PM10/16/21
to
On 10/16/2021 10:43 AM, DMB wrote:
--
Kentucky Jelly Buddha
Making Leek Insertion Easy Since 1904
Van Horn and Sawtell Co. of New York City
DMB
Oct 16, 2021, 8:51:00 PM10/16/21
to
On Saturday, 16 October 2021 at 08:49:38 UTC-6, Noah Sombrero wrote:
...
...
> Really, why do we need separate names for
> wifi
> radio waves
> microwaves
>
> When they really are all different wave lengths of light? And cable
> tv, cable internet are really light waves that pass through fiber
> optic cables.
>
> My suspicion is that different names for things adds some mystique and
> suggests that something new has been invented. New technology,
> innovation. Buzz words so the sales guys can make their pitch more
> potent.
>
> Besides needing to explain again, after the 3rd grade, that light has
> all these various band widths, but is really the same thing, photons
> traveling through space. And why a radio waves can travel through
> buildings, but visible light cannot.
> --
> Noah Sombrero
It's so dumb calling something that doesn't light up, light waves.
> wifi
> radio waves
> microwaves
>
> When they really are all different wave lengths of light? And cable
> tv, cable internet are really light waves that pass through fiber
> optic cables.
>
> My suspicion is that different names for things adds some mystique and
> suggests that something new has been invented. New technology,
> innovation. Buzz words so the sales guys can make their pitch more
> potent.
>
> Besides needing to explain again, after the 3rd grade, that light has
> all these various band widths, but is really the same thing, photons
> traveling through space. And why a radio waves can travel through
> buildings, but visible light cannot.
> --
> Noah Sombrero
Why doesn't anyone understand that?
Noah Sombrero
Oct 16, 2021, 8:56:56 PM10/16/21
to
On Sat, 16 Oct 2021 17:50:59 -0700 (PDT), DMB <sgma...@gmail.com>
wrote:
It is dumb but factual. We are talking about how that article is not
a demonstration of why simplicity works. It could be a demonstration
of why dumbing things down works. The topic of residual radiation
after the big bang is not simple.
Calling things light that don't light up would be a complication that
gets in the way of dumbing down.
--
Noah Sombrero
wrote:
a demonstration of why simplicity works. It could be a demonstration
of why dumbing things down works. The topic of residual radiation
after the big bang is not simple.
Calling things light that don't light up would be a complication that
gets in the way of dumbing down.
--
Noah Sombrero
Love
Oct 17, 2021, 6:21:48 AM10/17/21
to
In article <skf5tt$9vq$1...@dont-email.me>, julia...@gmail.com says...
It's possible that I'm just slower than
you are, or too much of a believer in
the redeemability of my fellow man.
--
Love
you are, or too much of a believer in
the redeemability of my fellow man.
--
Love
Julian
Oct 17, 2021, 6:37:48 AM10/17/21
to
>
Noah Sombrero
Oct 17, 2021, 7:45:44 AM10/17/21
to
along.
--
Noah Sombrero
Love
Oct 17, 2021, 12:00:20 PM10/17/21
to
In article <skgudq$r1n$1...@dont-email.me>, julia...@gmail.com says...
Probably both. [hanging head low]
--
Love
--
Love
Julian
Oct 17, 2021, 5:17:34 PM10/17/21
to
Love
Oct 17, 2021, 11:25:04 PM10/17/21
to
Love
Oct 18, 2021, 8:16:04 AM10/18/21
to
In article <skfjpo$5jq$3...@dont-email.me>, ans...@gmail.com says...
up front!
--
Love
>On 10/16/2021 10:43 AM, DMB wrote:
>> On Saturday, 16 October 2021 at 08:03:46 UTC-6, Noah Sombrero wrote:
>> ...
>>>> You say "dumbed down" then use a grade 3
>>>> exposition of the EM spectrum to show how
>>>> much it has been dumbed down?
>>
>>> Grade 3? Why then say microwave radiation instead of light waves?
>>> In any case, the real gloss went to theory of relativity and why there
>>> should be any low bandwidth light waves. It is in the math of course.
>>> Far beyond the reach of us lower types.
>>
>> Lower types? I beg your pardon!
>>
>
>Don't beg, it's degrading!
No getting degraded unless you have paid
>> On Saturday, 16 October 2021 at 08:03:46 UTC-6, Noah Sombrero wrote:
>> ...
>>>> You say "dumbed down" then use a grade 3
>>>> exposition of the EM spectrum to show how
>>>> much it has been dumbed down?
>>
>>> Grade 3? Why then say microwave radiation instead of light waves?
>>> In any case, the real gloss went to theory of relativity and why there
>>> should be any low bandwidth light waves. It is in the math of course.
>>> Far beyond the reach of us lower types.
>>
>> Lower types? I beg your pardon!
>>
>
>Don't beg, it's degrading!
up front!
--
Love
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