Physics: New Frontiers

Physics: New Frontiers

In the world of physics, very little in the universe is what it first appears to be. And science fiction has imagined some pretty wild ideas about how the universe could work â€“ from hidden extra dimensions in Interstellar to life as a mental projection in The Matrix. But these imaginings seem downright tame compared with the mind-bending science now coming out of physics and astronomy, and in this eBook, Physics: New Frontiers, we look at the strange and fascinating discoveries shaping (and reshaping) the field today. In the world of astrophysics, the weirdness begins at the moment of creation. In â€œThe Black Hole at the Beginning of Time,â€ the authors discuss theories of what might have come before the big bang. Could our 3-D universe have sprung from the formation of a black hole in a 4-D cosmos? The math says: maybe. Later, in â€œThe Giant Bubbles of the Milky Way,â€ the authors describe massive structures dubbed â€œFermi bubblesâ€ at its center â€“ structures that no one noticed until recently. Technological innovations make much of this new science possible, as we see again in â€œNeutrinos at the Ends of the Earth,â€ where 5,000-odd sensors frozen deep within a cubic kilometer of ice in Antarctica aim to catch neutrinos in order to study distant cosmic phenomena. Scientists are also dissecting molecules with the most powerful x-ray laser in the world, as explored in â€œThe Ultimate X-ray Machine.â€ Even our most fundamental notions of what reality is are up for debate, as examined in â€œDoes the Multiverse Really Exist?â€ and the aptly named â€œWhat Is Real?â€ in which the authors question whether particles are indeed material things at all. While all of this abstraction might seem like a fun exercise in mental gymnastics, living things must also abide by the laws of physics, which, according to â€œThe Limits of Intelligence,â€ may prevent our brains from evolving further. Then again, as weâ€™ve learned, things could be different than they appearâ€¦

Country	USA
Author	Scientific American Editors
Binding	Kindle Edition
EISBN	9781250121493
Format	Kindle eBook
Label	Scientific American
Manufacturer	Scientific American
NumberOfPages	193
PublicationDate	2017-05-22
Publisher	Scientific American
ReleaseDate	2017-05-22
Studio	Scientific American

Physics: New Frontiers

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