Posted by Chad Orzel on May 25, 2011 I learned today that the National Georgraphic Channel video I mentioned last week has actually already aired on the network. It was last week’s episode of the series “Naked Science,” titled Living in a Parallel Universe.
I haven’t seen it, obviously, but it’s running again, tomorrow (the 26th), at 4pm (Eastern (US) time). Set your DVR accordingly.
(I’m also very pleased to have learned of the air date via email from Alan Guth…)
Tx, I will likely get this off the Internet. First, congrats on your own success, even if I disagree with some of your interpreations (not that anyone really knows what’s going on with this subject!)
As for other universes, let me repeat some of what I said at the “Die” thread: The MWI idea is silly IMHO. For one issue, just consider the sticky problem of how to get unequal probabilities (unequal amplitudes in starting superposition) from a split into two worlds (always neglected in popular treatments.) Then there’s why we don’t observe them (and no, statistical arguments don’t tell me why the left over “hit” in the other detector isn’t something I can find from e.g. its deposited energy, etc.)
You've read the blog, now try the books:
How to Teach Relativity to Your Dog is published by Basic Books. "“Unlike quantum physics, which remains bizarre even to experts, much of relativity makes sense. Thus, Einstein’s special relativity merely states that the laws of physics and the speed of light are identical for all observers in smooth motion. This sounds trivial but leads to weird if delightfully comprehensible phenomena, provided someone like Orzel delivers a clear explanation of why.” --Kirkus Reviews "Bravo to both man and dog." The New York Times.
How to Teach Physics to Your Dog is published by Scribner. "It's hard to imagine a better way for the mathematically and scientifically challenged, in particular, to grasp basic quantum physics." -- Booklist "Chad Orzel's How to Teach Physics to Your Dog is an absolutely delightful book on many axes: first, its subject matter, quantum physics, is arguably the most mind-bending scientific subject we have; second, the device of the book -- a quantum physicist, Orzel, explains quantum physics to Emmy, his cheeky German shepherd -- is a hoot, and has the singular advantage of making the mind-bending a little less traumatic when the going gets tough (quantum physics has a certain irreducible complexity that precludes an easy understanding of its implications); finally, third, it is extremely well-written, combining a scientist's rigor and accuracy with a natural raconteur's storytelling skill." -- BoingBoing
May 26, 2011
