fullbony

why is thunder associated with some lightning storms and not others ? i have seen "lightning" only storms but no thunder. why is that ?

how long does it take for a star from the moment it starts collapsing to it becoming a blackhole ?

most books describe this event but no one discusses the time frame involved. has anyone actually calculated this ?

can even the tiniest of black holes grow larger as long as it is fed by matter >

for example can a neutron annihilate with a antiproton ?

if not then can we contain antimatter with matter ( as long is its not the same antiparticle ) ?

if the very fabric of spacetime ( universe ) is expanding wont the very atoms of matter expand as well in size ? if that is the case then why do we observe galaxies receding away from us ( technically both galaxies should inflate in size to compensate for the increased space between them !

quantum theory and relativity both depend on "observers" whose conscious measurments determine the behavior of objects. the conscious observer however is never defined nor described in this system of science. based on this gap, a legitimate question may be posed:

Do you believe that consciousness has its basis in physical form or that physical form is derived from consciousness ? what you choose determines the existence of GOD. be wary grasshopper !

a great advanced civilization was passing thru our solar system and is ready to donate ONE advance in science out of the following three.... which one would you choose and why ?

1. ENERGY : we will receive the technology to fusion energy - the answer to unlimited energy forever.

2. HEALTH : the cures to all medical illnesses including genetically acquired ones. ( not immortality though ).

3. COSMIC DISCOVERY : the technology to interstellar travel to other worlds and perhaps other life including the gift bearers !

please pick wisely and explain yourself thoroughly.

serious answers only please.

which of the following choices do you feel would be the BEST step for benefit of our species in terms of survival and quality of life ? ( remember, please put humanity before the individual as personal problems will always be there ! )

A) the quest for IMMORTALITY - a cure to cure all diseases.....life would end ONLY as a result of trauma or severe old age....(some reasonable number ). a noble cause indeed.

B) the quest for FUSION energy - the end of energy problems as this technology can theoretically provide limitless energy for all of humanity.

C) the quest for INTERSTELLAR travel- the discovery of new intelligent beings... the ability to colonize the galaxy with humanity....mind blowing.

D) the quest for consciousness - the final scientific understanding of the human mind / consciousness....do we then need to know anything else ?

they are all good choices.... but which will you choose ?

which of the following 4 discoveries would you like to see in the future ? Please explain in detail as to why you may think it to be the case !

A) the medical cure to ALL illnesses. ( NOT to be confused with immortality ! )

B) fusion energy- the FINAL solution to the energy problem. will provide humanity with limitless energy forever.

C) intersellar travel - the ability to traverse long distances in a lifetime and thus achieve contact with other life forms and facilitate the spread of humanity thru the universe.

D) the explanation of consciousness - a way by which humanity will take a new direction by transcending current science into a newer "meta-science", a tricky question, one that holds the promise of ending ALL other questions or one that has no answer

there is plenty of evidence that space itself ( the universe ) is expanding. if so, shouldnt it mean that matter ( the atoms themselves ) are expanding in size ( as they exist within the fabric of space ) ? please post your thoughts ( i would prefer professionals only )

if matter also expands, then why does the distance between objects increase ? if only the distance increase, then doesnt matter occupy a position "independent" to space ( instead of existing within it [ as it is believed ] ?

i believe the key to understanding this paradox is the next step in theoretical physics.

Physicist are trying to combine quantum theory with relativity.

Both contradict one another in certain areas. One theory will eventually have to give way so that a successful newer theory will emerge ( quantum gravity ).

Do you feel that this new theory will incorporate quantum theory within the general framework of relativity OR

vice versa, that relativity will exist as subset of quantum theory ?

Please explain your answer and please, serious answers only ( preferably by professionals ).

thank you.

I know that elecromagnetic waves are generated when an electric charge oscillates in space. ( i.e. the vibrating electric field generates a magnetic field which then generates a electric field and so on .....producing a EM wave ).

My question :

is it possible to generate ( from scratch ) an EM wave from a oscillating MAGNETIC field source ( one NOT induced by an electric field ) ?

if so, please give an example of this.

serious answers ONLY please !

which subject do you think is worthy of greater insight ?

for that matter, which group ( physicists or mathematicians ) do you admire and would be remembered for if you were one of the great ones ?

Please explain in detail....

thank you.

you have the choice of inventing ONE of the following:

a) the answer to fusion energy - which would effectively solve the problem of energy for humanity FOREVER.

b) the solution to interstellar travel ( e.g. spacewarp ) - which would lead to the discovery and contact with other life forms and possibly another home to humanity ( should this one crumble ).

c) the answer to the riddle of consciousness- a puzzle that has existed since our beginnings and still unexplained by any current physical theory.

d) the universal cure for all illnesses- the holy grail of medicine,,, where everyone is entitled to an existence free of disease ( but NOT immortality ).

Please explain your answer.

The BEST answer will be the one with most compelling reasons.

Thank You and good luck !

can anyone tell me what the hell the song "Man on the Moon" by REM means ?

i have been trying to make sense out of the song and video and cant come to a conclusion of what REM was trying to get across... thanks

is there any body that does genetic testing of your DNA to specifically identify what your ancestry is and in what parts ?

i am an individual of mixed racial inheritance and would like to know where exactly my ancestors came from.

Do U feel that quantum computers will be a future reality and if so how will it change our existence ( as the internet did in the last decade ).

there are 10 silk blue socks and 10 silk red socks in a dark room in a drawer. you are asked go in the dark room and pull out some socks so as ensure that you will have at least one pair of either blue OR red socks to wear to the party tonight. you only have one chance to enter the room to do this. what is the minimum number of socks you need to blindly grab so that you wont be dissapointed ?

there is a pile of 12 identical bricks. one of the bricks weighs heavier OR lighter than the other 11. you have a libra balance scale to compare groups of bricks BUT you can only perform 3 comparison weight measurements. there IS a solution and it is complex. the solution algorithm MUST be able to determine the odd brick everytime and in every case. it is one of the simplest stated problems and requires no knowledge of advanced math or logic but does require ONE remarkable insight to solve. i solved the problem without any help but it took me several days. to date i dont know anyone who has been able to solve this problem that i know. perhaps some of you out there will be able solve this very interesting puzzle.

what is the radius (call it "x" ) of a horizon circle for an observor at a height "h" over a sphere of radius "r" .

please express in a formula solving for "x" . A practical application of this say you were on mount everest , how far can you see under optimal conditions ? (what is the distance to the horizon at that height )