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Testing Relativity

Posted by michael on from the rewriting-textbooks dept.

MGDruss writes "NASA are proposing an empirical measurement on the ISS which would test general relativity to a precision within the bounds of superstring (and other) theories to predict deviation." We mentioned the Cassini experiment last year.

7 of 322 comments (clear)

  1. Re:but.... by understyled · · Score: 5, Funny

    What ever happened to the concept that the simplest explaination is probably the best?

    that only works in movies starring jodie foster.

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  2. Pff, already done by Rosco+P.+Coltrane · · Score: 4, Funny

    Relativity has already been put to the test. I mean, if time wasn't flexible, how else would Arthur Dent be able to witness the end of the universe every evening at Milliways?

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  3. Re:Let's have a little poll. by Forge · · Score: 5, Funny

    Slashdot logic.

    Testing mathematical theories by means of slightly twisted democracy. :)

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  4. Re:Let's have a little poll. by FesterDaFelcher · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's turtles all the way down, man.

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  5. Re:Great. by pipingguy · · Score: 4, Funny

    Warp 10 is impossible

    Of course it is. Go fast enough and eventually it would be possible to go back in time and re-write bad plotlines. Or be able to see Slashdot articles before they are posted.

    Wait...

  6. Blasphemy! by NotQuiteReal · · Score: 4, Funny
    Einstein wrote it. I beleive it. You should too. No need to test it.

    Oh wait, I've confused Science with religion, again.

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  7. Re:Great. by STrinity · · Score: 4, Funny

    What you're talking about are exceptions which use different warp scales, entirely different methods of traveling through space, supernatural beings, or in some cases alternate realities created by supernatural beings. All of which is perfectly explained and believable.

    So wait, the Enterprise being able to reach a velocity defined as an asymptote is okay and believable when an alien entity does it? That is the dumbest fanboy excuse I've ever heard.

    The only one that isn't is Voy: Threshold. It's the biggest stain on Trek since TOS: Miri.

    No, dude, Threshold isn't a universally reviled episode because the science doesn't make sense (if that were the case, there'd be very few good episodes of Star Trek) or because it broke continuity (something Star Trek has never been big on). It's a bad episode because traveling at infinite speed made Paris and Janeway devolve into salamanders.

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