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	<title>Comments on: Science and Unobservable Things</title>
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	<link>http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/03/15/science-and-unobservable-things/</link>
	<description>Random samplings from a universe of ideas.</description>
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		<title>By: Sean Carroll on the nature of science &#171; Why Evolution Is True</title>
		<link>http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/03/15/science-and-unobservable-things/comment-page-1/#comment-82939</link>
		<dc:creator>Sean Carroll on the nature of science &#171; Why Evolution Is True</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:26:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/03/15/science-and-unobservable-things/#comment-82939</guid>
		<description>[...] theories of physics: The same logic applies, for example, to the highly contentious case of the multiverse. The multiverse isn’t, by itself, a theory; it’s a prediction of a certain class of theories. [...]</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>[...] theories of physics: The same logic applies, for example, to the highly contentious case of the multiverse. The multiverse isn’t, by itself, a theory; it’s a prediction of a certain class of theories. [...]</p>
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		<title>By: Anthony A. Aiya-Oba</title>
		<link>http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/03/15/science-and-unobservable-things/comment-page-1/#comment-38137</link>
		<dc:creator>Anthony A. Aiya-Oba</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 11 Apr 2008 16:51:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/03/15/science-and-unobservable-things/#comment-38137</guid>
		<description>Every hardware has its definite software:
Cosmic Equator of self-contradiction (pair of everything), is the Absolute Logic of self-creation and Gluon of All in all. - Aiya-Oba.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Every hardware has its definite software:<br />
Cosmic Equator of self-contradiction (pair of everything), is the Absolute Logic of self-creation and Gluon of All in all. &#8211; Aiya-Oba.</p>
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		<title>By: Naraian, A</title>
		<link>http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/03/15/science-and-unobservable-things/comment-page-1/#comment-38142</link>
		<dc:creator>Naraian, A</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 09 Apr 2008 03:59:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/03/15/science-and-unobservable-things/#comment-38142</guid>
		<description>Neil  (Post 80):

Disclaimer#1. I have not read all the posts here so if anyone has already made this point, I apologize for repeating).
Disclaimer#2. I left physics decades ago early in my career for many reasons, but I now conduct clinical work in inflammatory diseases and cancer, so I encounter similar problems in my field. Many people put out both testable and un-testable speculations, but in our case the regulatory environment limits us from going too far. Despite this, some really unlikely speculations are entertained and studies conducted, all due to the influence of a few well known and powerful people. They are bright and honest, yet end up producing what some would uncharitably call &quot;bullshit.&quot; I for one, see it in terms of human fallibility, nothing else.
The Popperian construct (at least these days) refers to actual experiment that can be conducted to prove or disprove something. In other words, it is not just about a mathematical abstraction like &quot;probability&quot;. Mathematics is a tool or a means to an end in the physical sciences, something you imply as well. If probability simply refers to the likelihood of an event from happening and nothing more, a Popperian analysis should not apply to the abstraction itself. Taking this a step further, anything goes as long as it has a non-zero probability. Could you imagine the number of crackpot contentions that will demand attention? I am not implying that String Theorists are cranks, just that they have badly oversold it. In that sense, both Woit and Horgan are right. Nonsensical theories can sometimes produce occasional predictions that come out true, but that is no reason to go after it. This where Truzzi and his band go off in their Zetetic discussions and end up entertaining ESP, Homoeopathy, paranormal, Velikoskian stuff etc., all in an attempt to be neutral or agnostic as he calls it. And the rest of us are called pseudo skeptics to boot. Some things have to be rejected outright, because they don’t fit in with elementary logic and reason i.e., what we call science. In that sense, I don’t see any fly in the ointment.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Neil  (Post 80):</p>
<p>Disclaimer#1. I have not read all the posts here so if anyone has already made this point, I apologize for repeating).<br />
Disclaimer#2. I left physics decades ago early in my career for many reasons, but I now conduct clinical work in inflammatory diseases and cancer, so I encounter similar problems in my field. Many people put out both testable and un-testable speculations, but in our case the regulatory environment limits us from going too far. Despite this, some really unlikely speculations are entertained and studies conducted, all due to the influence of a few well known and powerful people. They are bright and honest, yet end up producing what some would uncharitably call &#8220;bullshit.&#8221; I for one, see it in terms of human fallibility, nothing else.<br />
The Popperian construct (at least these days) refers to actual experiment that can be conducted to prove or disprove something. In other words, it is not just about a mathematical abstraction like &#8220;probability&#8221;. Mathematics is a tool or a means to an end in the physical sciences, something you imply as well. If probability simply refers to the likelihood of an event from happening and nothing more, a Popperian analysis should not apply to the abstraction itself. Taking this a step further, anything goes as long as it has a non-zero probability. Could you imagine the number of crackpot contentions that will demand attention? I am not implying that String Theorists are cranks, just that they have badly oversold it. In that sense, both Woit and Horgan are right. Nonsensical theories can sometimes produce occasional predictions that come out true, but that is no reason to go after it. This where Truzzi and his band go off in their Zetetic discussions and end up entertaining ESP, Homoeopathy, paranormal, Velikoskian stuff etc., all in an attempt to be neutral or agnostic as he calls it. And the rest of us are called pseudo skeptics to boot. Some things have to be rejected outright, because they don’t fit in with elementary logic and reason i.e., what we call science. In that sense, I don’t see any fly in the ointment.</p>
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		<title>By: Lawrence B. Crowell</title>
		<link>http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/03/15/science-and-unobservable-things/comment-page-1/#comment-38182</link>
		<dc:creator>Lawrence B. Crowell</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 30 Mar 2008 18:26:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/03/15/science-and-unobservable-things/#comment-38182</guid>
		<description>In what Qubit writes above this assumes certain things about the quantum/classical correspondence.  Zurek demonstrates that quantum effects have resulted in certain changes in the motion of the Saturnian moon Iapitus.  Quantum fluctuations can be amplified by classical effects with Lyapunov exponents.

Lawrence B. Crowell</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In what Qubit writes above this assumes certain things about the quantum/classical correspondence.  Zurek demonstrates that quantum effects have resulted in certain changes in the motion of the Saturnian moon Iapitus.  Quantum fluctuations can be amplified by classical effects with Lyapunov exponents.</p>
<p>Lawrence B. Crowell</p>
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		<title>By: Qubits</title>
		<link>http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/03/15/science-and-unobservable-things/comment-page-1/#comment-38180</link>
		<dc:creator>Qubits</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 29 Mar 2008 21:13:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/03/15/science-and-unobservable-things/#comment-38180</guid>
		<description>We don’t even have one theory that reconciles gravity and quantum mechanics while matching cleanly onto our low-energy world, or a comprehensive model of the early universe that explains our initial conditions. &lt;/blockquote&gt;

I am positive, that you do have such a theory. An observable object over a certain size simply is not effected by quantum physics, because a quantum field is weaker than gravity field. Where&#039;s the link in that?

Qubit</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>We don’t even have one theory that reconciles gravity and quantum mechanics while matching cleanly onto our low-energy world, or a comprehensive model of the early universe that explains our initial conditions. </p>
<p>I am positive, that you do have such a theory. An observable object over a certain size simply is not effected by quantum physics, because a quantum field is weaker than gravity field. Where&#8217;s the link in that?</p>
<p>Qubit</p>
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		<title>By: Mr. Noah</title>
		<link>http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/03/15/science-and-unobservable-things/comment-page-1/#comment-38181</link>
		<dc:creator>Mr. Noah</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 29 Mar 2008 16:41:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/03/15/science-and-unobservable-things/#comment-38181</guid>
		<description>Of course making accurate predictions is not sufficient for a theory to be a good one. But it is necessary. A theory that makes predictions without giving us understanding of the mechanisms involved is far inferior to one that delivers both predictions and understanding. But a theory that makes no predictions is of no use at all. That is simple and should be obvious.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Of course making accurate predictions is not sufficient for a theory to be a good one. But it is necessary. A theory that makes predictions without giving us understanding of the mechanisms involved is far inferior to one that delivers both predictions and understanding. But a theory that makes no predictions is of no use at all. That is simple and should be obvious.</p>
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		<title>By: John Merryman</title>
		<link>http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/03/15/science-and-unobservable-things/comment-page-1/#comment-38169</link>
		<dc:creator>John Merryman</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 27 Mar 2008 10:56:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/03/15/science-and-unobservable-things/#comment-38169</guid>
		<description>Fascinating article by a neuroscientist about her experience as victim of a stroke and the insights it gave on the relationship between the left and right hemispheres of the brain and how they process energy and information.

http://blog.ted.com/2008/03/jill_bolte_tayl.php#more</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Fascinating article by a neuroscientist about her experience as victim of a stroke and the insights it gave on the relationship between the left and right hemispheres of the brain and how they process energy and information.</p>
<p><a href="http://blog.ted.com/2008/03/jill_bolte_tayl.php#more" rel="nofollow">http://blog.ted.com/2008/03/jill_bolte_tayl.php#more</a></p>
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		<title>By: Effects, causes, and science adrift &#171; A Quantum Diaries Survivor</title>
		<link>http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/03/15/science-and-unobservable-things/comment-page-1/#comment-38179</link>
		<dc:creator>Effects, causes, and science adrift &#171; A Quantum Diaries Survivor</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 26 Mar 2008 21:38:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/03/15/science-and-unobservable-things/#comment-38179</guid>
		<description>[...] writing something that I think has some originality, or at least some personality, I stumble in another recent post discussing quite similar matters in more length, more depth, and in front of a larger audience. It [...]</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>[...] writing something that I think has some originality, or at least some personality, I stumble in another recent post discussing quite similar matters in more length, more depth, and in front of a larger audience. It [...]</p>
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		<title>By: John Merryman</title>
		<link>http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/03/15/science-and-unobservable-things/comment-page-1/#comment-38168</link>
		<dc:creator>John Merryman</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 26 Mar 2008 15:36:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/03/15/science-and-unobservable-things/#comment-38168</guid>
		<description>Lawrence,

 Another example of the issue would be with the dichotomy of the Uncertainty Principle, that you can&#039;t measure both position and momentum of quanta. I would say the notion of position is a fallacy, for if any such particle had an absolute position, its temperature would be absolute zero, so it would esstentially not exist, since measuring it requires some degree of motion. While I&#039;m not an expert on the methods used, it would seem that measuring position actually means measuring force, since by actually stopping the particle, you measure the amount of resistance required to do so. While measuring momentum measures the direction of resistance.
 So my argument is the reason reality is fuzzy is because there is no clear distinction between object and action and this applies at all scales. Describing time as a dimension, rather than a measurement, simply tries to make all action a series of objects.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Lawrence,</p>
<p> Another example of the issue would be with the dichotomy of the Uncertainty Principle, that you can&#8217;t measure both position and momentum of quanta. I would say the notion of position is a fallacy, for if any such particle had an absolute position, its temperature would be absolute zero, so it would esstentially not exist, since measuring it requires some degree of motion. While I&#8217;m not an expert on the methods used, it would seem that measuring position actually means measuring force, since by actually stopping the particle, you measure the amount of resistance required to do so. While measuring momentum measures the direction of resistance.<br />
 So my argument is the reason reality is fuzzy is because there is no clear distinction between object and action and this applies at all scales. Describing time as a dimension, rather than a measurement, simply tries to make all action a series of objects.</p>
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		<title>By: Not Even Wrong &#187; Blog Archive &#187; Will Physicists Find God?</title>
		<link>http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/03/15/science-and-unobservable-things/comment-page-1/#comment-38178</link>
		<dc:creator>Not Even Wrong &#187; Blog Archive &#187; Will Physicists Find God?</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 25 Mar 2008 23:25:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/03/15/science-and-unobservable-things/#comment-38178</guid>
		<description>[...] parallel universes, attacks Weinberg as not understanding how science works in a blog posting about Science and Unobservable Things, and in a discussion with John Horgan at Bloggingheads entitled Cosmic Bull Session. He [...]</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>[...] parallel universes, attacks Weinberg as not understanding how science works in a blog posting about Science and Unobservable Things, and in a discussion with John Horgan at Bloggingheads entitled Cosmic Bull Session. He [...]</p>
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