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Reflected Gravitational Waves

Posted by kdawson on from the could-prove-useful dept.

WSOGMM sends in an arXiv blog post about reflecting gravity waves. The speculation is that reflected gravity could go some ways toward explaining the odd readings being returned by Gravity Probe B. "In the couple of weeks since he introduced the idea that superconducting sheets can reflect gravity waves, Raymond Chiao from the University of California, Merced, has been busy with a couple of buddies working out how big this effect is... Chiao and co. ask how big the effect of a gravitational wave on a thin superconducting sheet is compared to the effect on an ordinary conducting sheet. The answer? 42 orders of magnitude bigger."

21 of 329 comments (clear)

  1. We now know the question to the answer... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Douglas Adams gave us that answer forever ago.

    1. Re:We now know the question to the answer... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Was you a spaceship B person? Sick of sanitising phones? :)

    2. Re:We now know the question to the answer... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Indeed. Didn't you guys watch Battlestar Galactica?

      Don't trust Asimo.

    3. Re:We now know the question to the answer... by SlashV · · Score: 5, Funny

      It's already happened several times, actually.

      42 times, most likely.

    4. Re:We now know the question to the answer... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Hitroll? Adolf Hitroll? You're a jerk, a complete kneebiter. I just thought you should know that.

  2. This can't be a coincidence by saibot834 · · Score: 3, Funny

    The answer? 42 orders of magnitude bigger.

    Either that's a scientist's prank or Douglas Adams really was right!

    1. Re:This can't be a coincidence by GreenTech11 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Don't forget the superconducter sheet only distorts gravity at this ratio when it is 6 times 9

      --
      Laughter is the best medicine, except if you have a broken rib.
    2. Re:This can't be a coincidence by dna_(c)(tm)(r) · · Score: 2, Funny

      They didn't say "42!", that would be 41! times bigger than 42

  3. Cue the Douglas Adams references! by bonch · · Score: 4, Funny

    Attention wannabe comedians:

    There is a 42 reference in this story. This your cue...this is your chance..the spotlight is on you to bring humor to the world and make countless references to Douglas Adams. Because he mentioned the number 42 in a book!

    1. Re:Cue the Douglas Adams references! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      Attention slashbots. The following are anti-lulz

      42
      Chuck Norris
      Sharks with lasers

    2. Re:Cue the Douglas Adams references! by Yvanhoe · · Score: 4, Funny

      They are beowulf clusters of anti-lulz.

      --
      The Wise adapts himself to the world. The Fool adapts the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the Fool.
    3. Re:Cue the Douglas Adams references! by L4t3r4lu5 · · Score: 1, Funny

      The lulz are a lie!

      --
      Finally had enough. Come see us over at https://soylentnews.org/
    4. Re:Cue the Douglas Adams references! by Sebilrazen · · Score: 3, Funny

      Although perhaps i should qualify that ;-)

      i imagine you'd want to.

      --
      "There are no facts, only interpretations." --Friedrich Nietzsche.
    5. Re:Cue the Douglas Adams references! by zappepcs · · Score: 3, Funny

      Yes, but we are changing history ... this particular instance of 42 will help us to build a gravity wave detector which will further be used to detect the Galactic superhighway construction, allowing us to register a complaint about government confiscation of space it has no right to. At long last all the training will pay off and Earth's lawyers will then have something useful to do. Ambulance chasers will become the heroes they always thought themselves to be, and history will forever reward them.... except for *AA lawyers who will be scorned by both humans and all other Galactic citizens right up to the end of time... if you're fortunate enough to have reservations to see it.

      --
      Support NYCountryLawyer RIAA vs People
    6. Re:Cue the Douglas Adams references! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      After all, you /. people shouldn't be making jokes!!!

      Don't you understand the gravity of this situation?

    7. Re:Cue the Douglas Adams references! by Alzheimers · · Score: 2, Funny

      I have a truly marvelous joke for this proposition which this post is too narrow to contain.

    8. Re:Cue the Douglas Adams references! by Onymous+Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Ah, yes, but only AFAYK. See, time is an illusion.

      Off to lunch-

  4. Re:Possible correlation? by mrvan · · Score: 4, Funny

    [posting to correct misclick on moderation]

    Yeah those moments are what you do it for... that and tenure :-)

  5. Re:Reflected gravitational waves can be useful by Farmer+Tim · · Score: 5, Funny

    And if you can amplify it, then maybe you could weaponise it

    So the plan is to make soldiers heavier so they feel fat and too depressed to fight? Fiendish...

    --
    Blank until /. makes another boneheaded UI decision.
  6. Re:So... by K'Lyre · · Score: 4, Funny

    McFly you bozo. Those boards don't work on water unless you've got POWER! hehehehe

  7. Maybe the bulb just burnt out? by illegalcortex · · Score: 2, Funny

    Oh Gravity Probe B, why can't you be more like Gravity Probe A?