Quasar Study Suggests a Physics Constant Isn't so Constant
Or can you?RICHARD FEYNMAN, Nobel laureate and physicist extraordinaire, called it a “magic number” and its value “one of the greatest damn mysteries of physics”. The number he was referring to, which goes by the symbol alpha and the rather more long-winded name of the fine-structure constant, is magic indeed. If it were a mere 4% bigger or smaller than it is, stars would not be able to sustain the nuclear reactions that synthesise carbon and oxygen atoms. One consequence would be that squishy, carbon-based life would not exist. Why alpha takes on the precise value it does, so delicately fine-tuned for life, is a deep scientific mystery. A new piece of astrophysical research may, however, have uncovered a crucial piece of the puzzle. In a paper just submitted to Physical Review Letters, a team led by John Webb and Julian King from the University of New South Wales in Australia presents evidence that the fine-structure constant may not actually be constant after all. Rather, it seems to
Quasar Study Suggests a Physics Constant Isn't so Constant
After analyzing light coming from distant quasars, some researchers have ...
Fri 10 Sep 10 from Discover Magazine
Meaning of life changes across cosmos
Scientists have detected a spatial variation in the fine structure constant, meaning the laws of physics might alter in different parts of the universe.
Sun 5 Sep 10 from ABC Science
Variations in fine-structure constant suggest laws of physics not the same everywhere
(PhysOrg.com) -- One of the most controversial questions in cosmology is why the fundamental constants of nature seem fine-tuned for life. One of these fundamental constants is the fine-structure ...
Sun 5 Sep 10 from PhysOrg
Changing one of nature's constants
If correct, new finding could upend physicists' view of universe
Fri 3 Sep 10 from ScienceNews
Changing One of Nature's Constants, Tue 7 Sep 10 from U.S. News
The nature of the universe: Ye cannae change the laws of physics
Or can you?RICHARD FEYNMAN, Nobel laureate and physicist extraordinaire, called it a “magic number” and its value “one of the greatest damn mysteries of physics”. The ...
Thu 2 Sep 10 from The Economist
Laws of physics 'vary throughout the universe'
Australian and British astrophysicists say they have found evidence that the laws of physics are different in different parts of the universe. read more
Fri 10 Sep 10 from TG Daily
Fundamental Physics Laws Change Depending on When and Where You Are, New Study Says
A particularly mind-bending (and controversial) physics paper surfaced in the past week that should make you feel pretty special. It seems the laws of physics can change after all, and it just ...
Thu 2 Sep 10 from Popular Science
Laws of physics vary throughout the universe, new study suggests
A team of astrophysicists based in Australia and England has uncovered evidence that the laws of physics are different in different parts of the universe. The report describes how one of the ...
Thu 9 Sep 10 from ScienceDaily
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