1. pharyngula
  2. David Cumming replies

David Cumming replies

By pharyngula on December 6, 2009.

I laughed at the God Equation. The author writes to assure me it is very scientific. I laugh some more.

Dear Dr. Myers,

I didn't believe the equation either. I am a skeptic and a great fan of people like Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, etc. so please don't tar this with the pseudoscience brush because it's not appropriate in this case.

I'd ask you to consider the following. In the equation, pi divided by 0.0123456789 equals the 21 cm wavelength for the hydrogen fine transition.

So the equation is frequency of hydrogen fine transition times wavelength of hydrogen fine transition equals the speed of light - a straight down the line 100 per cent correct physics equation.

The Thoms (or megalithic yards) are just a conversion factor that occurs on both sides of the equation and so can be taken out of the equation by simple arithmetic. They are in the equation because this directly relates the equation to the polar circumference of the Earth.

I hope this makes it clear. I understand the implications are mind-boggling. But the equation is simple physics and will become mainstream knowledge.

If you're not acquainted with the physics, please get a friend knowledgeable in physics to check this.

Kind regards,

David

Tags
Kooks

More like this

The God Equation?
We atheists are done for now. Behold, the God Equation, which I received in email and proves that a deity created us all: Scientists working in the UK have discovered robust evidence that the creation of the earth and moon was a deliberate act. The researchers found that the earth, moon, and beyond…
Games are won by people who show up
There's a kerfuffle under way in which Jerry Coyne, PZ Myers, Richard Hoppe, and a host of others are debating whether NCSE is too nice to theists. Since I work for NCSE, I'm trying to stay out of this, and my comments about NCSE will be based on publicly available information, not any internal…
Books on Atheism Raising Hackles?
On a recent trip to the local Barnes and Noble, I noticed a remarkable thing. On the main kiosk, the place where the Stephen King and John Grisham books are located, there were two prominently placed volumes that caught my eye. One was The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins, the other was God: The…
In which I receive an invitation
I just got a nice letter from the Science Research Foundation of Turkey, an organization founded by Adnan Oktar and with a name so duplicitous that our American Republicans are writhing with envy. Here's their request and my answer. Dear Dr. Paul Zachary Myers, I am more or less aware of your…