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Category: Physics
Posted on: April 30, 2008 9:49 AM, by Chad Orzel
Via Swans On Tea, an article in the Telegraph about the Greatest Experiments in Science.
Been there, done that, picked a winner. Over two years ago. Way to go, Torygraph.
OK, fine, they did all of science, while I was only looking for the greatest experiment in physics. But, really, can any of those stamp collectors hold a candle to Michelson and Morley? I didn't think so.
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Comments
# 1 | Uncle Al | April 30, 2008 11:08 AM
Michelson-Morley were sensitive to 10^(-8) relative in 1887. 2007 touched 10^(-16) relative. Two simultaneous interferometers observed for a year: Optical in Berlin, Germany at 52°31'N 13°20'E and microwave in Perth, Australia at 31°53'S 115°53E. An aether background could never be at rest relative to both of them and the fixed stars (e.g., ground-based star positions and via Hipparcos in space).