Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bacasper]

Applying Einstein's theory beyond the solar system

Fri, 03/12/2010 - 19:43 - NLN

A team led by Princeton University scientists has tested Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity to see if it holds true at cosmic scales. And, after two years of analyzing astronomical data, the scientists have concluded that Einstein's theory, which describes the interplay between gravity, space and time, works as well in vast distances as in more local regions of space.

The scientists' analysis of more than 70,000 galaxies demonstrates that the universe -- at least up to a distance of 3.5 billion light years from Earth -- plays by the rules set out by Einstein in his famous theory.

Ever since the physicist Arthur Eddington measured starlight bending around the sun during a 1919 eclipse and proved Einstein's theory of general relativity, the scientific world has accepted its tenets. But until now, according to the team, no one had tested the theory so thoroughly and robustly at distances and scales that go beyond the solar system.
...
The results are important, they said, because they shore up current theories explaining the shape and direction of the universe, including ideas about "dark energy," and dispel some hints from other recent experiments that general relativity may be wrong.

"All of our ideas in astronomy are based on this really enormous extrapolation, so anything we can do to see whether this is right or not on these scales is just enormously important," Gunn said. "It adds another brick to the foundation that underlies what we do."

First published in 1915, Einstein's general theory of relativity remains a pivotal breakthrough in modern physics. It redefined humanity's understanding of the fabric of existence -- gravity, space and time -- and ultimately explained everything from black holes to the Big Bang.

full article at link

[Adam Carolla]

[Underwaterbob]

[mateomiguel]

wow, even with a footnote saying that the quote was not supposed to be taken seriously and supposed to be humorous, you still get a response like that. The Internet never ceases to amaze me. But not as much as Einstein does. That man was a freakin genius.

[bacasper]

[bacasper]

[Underwaterbob]

[bacasper]