Because of the scale of the experimental setup, it is quite obvious that no gravitational effects are involved. Hence, there is no possibility for this experiment to recreate phenomena at the intersection of quantum mechanics and general relativity. What the Steinbauer does is he replicates a particular model of the black hole. If his setup works, fine, but it doesn't prove a single thing about how black holes behave - because he did not create one.
Many researchers will now pretend they'd never agree to such conditions etc, but the reality is that: 1. Targeted grants ("we give you $X to work on Y") are common 2. Many scientists are not particularly concerned with ethics outside the narrow area of not being a fraudster. As history shows (e.g. Nazi weapons research) scientists will take money from anyone as long as it allows them to research their pet subject, paying little thought to how their discoveries will be used. That's why anyone treating scientists as some role model in ethical behaviour is seriously deluding themselves.
What they showed is that black holes cannot form in *their model*, which includes quite a few simplifications to make the problem tractable numerically.
It might yet turn out that in another setting, the black hole can form.
The problem is that a 100% anonymous currency (like cash) is also very easy to steal (like cash). You can't anonymously assert the ownership of an asset.
"Primecoin solves a somewhat useful mathematical problem instead of completely wasting computer cycles like Bitcoin does."
Yeah, this was something which always bugged me about bitcoin - so much energy goes to waste and so much CO2 gets released into atmosphere to support the currency.
"The financial sector will lose it's grip pretty quickly on all this."
This is very funny given that Bitcoin is currently being integrated into the "official" financial system as another commodity or currency (depending on the jurisdiction). The financial sector is *taking over* Bitcoin as we speak.
The fact that they managed to construct a quantum computing device using solid-state physics is a technological breakthrough. It may revive the interest in the topic (which was fading due to lack of technological progress).
PS. And they did explain later in the text that "While each qubit is actually made up of a billion aluminum atoms, it acts like a single atom that can occupy two different energy states.". You are splitting hairs, my friend;-)
That's why these were called "artifical atoms" (emphasis added). I think that it is a sufficiently accurate description for an article targeted at non-professional audience.
It's one think to require a key to use an app but it's totally different to require the app access to the net so it can contact MS's servers
OMG, a XXIth century company using XXIth technology for copyright protection. How dare they! They should stick to methods which even a 12 year old kid can break, is that what you're saying?
It's also treating users like criminals when apps install a bunch of spyware such as Windows Genuine Advantage.
Non sequitur.
Yet MS is the only one I know that requires that.
Other vendors do it as well.
Two out of three Windows PCs I bought new did.
Did you pay $200 for each of them, or was it total?;-)
I also had to have hardware replaced on my PCs, I had to replace the motherboards and harddisks on two new Windows PC within a year
Because you bought cheap crap. No wonder it was crashing.
I never did install Linux though, because the original hardware was not compatible.
it would have been if they had rushed into switching over
But not switching over and remaining in a limbo is not a sustainable long-term policy. Think about the inconvenience of having two different spreadsheets in use across the administration.
But I agree they could have saved money by using a disto that was available instead of programming their own.
AFAIR they tried, but it turned out to be impossible. Go Linux!
Linux and open source is costly?
In terms of time, for example.
as well as all the apps needed for an office
For most people, if it doesn't have Word & Excel, it doesn't have "all the apps needed for an office".
And it came with an OS from a company that treats it's customers like criminals.
Propaganda slogan.
My other reason was because I got sick and tired of my Windows PCs constantly crashing
Funny thing, my Windows PC does not crash.
having to replace hardware
On a Windows PC you actually *can* replace hardware. On a Linux box, you stick to the working configuration you've got, because buying any new piece of hardware involves doing research on the internet checking if distro X supports hardware Y, version Z.
and reinstalling Windows
What for? I just installed my Windows 2 years after changing the motherboard ago and never reinstalled it again.
What's more costly is paying for something that is not usable!!!
Slashdot Mirror
How is this based on the same physics? Do you mean that theories are the same?
Because of the scale of the experimental setup, it is quite obvious that no gravitational effects are involved. Hence, there is no possibility for this experiment to recreate phenomena at the intersection of quantum mechanics and general relativity. What the Steinbauer does is he replicates a particular model of the black hole. If his setup works, fine, but it doesn't prove a single thing about how black holes behave - because he did not create one.
How about doxxing him in return?
The drones will also be used to bomb Polish towns and villages. I mean, deliver parcels.
Many researchers will now pretend they'd never agree to such conditions etc, but the reality is that:
1. Targeted grants ("we give you $X to work on Y") are common
2. Many scientists are not particularly concerned with ethics outside the narrow area of not being a fraudster. As history shows (e.g. Nazi weapons research) scientists will take money from anyone as long as it allows them to research their pet subject, paying little thought to how their discoveries will be used. That's why anyone treating scientists as some role model in ethical behaviour is seriously deluding themselves.
What they showed is that black holes cannot form in *their model*, which includes quite a few simplifications to make the problem tractable numerically.
It might yet turn out that in another setting, the black hole can form.
Don't forget 3141
Statistics done right is hard and boring. People prefer hacking to do hard and boring stuff.
It's not about the culture, it's about e.g. a spreadsheet which works.
"Really ? you are kidding right ? It's clearly not backed by gold anymore. So what's it backed by ?"
It's backed by the fact that you pay taxes with it.
The problem is that a 100% anonymous currency (like cash) is also very easy to steal (like cash). You can't anonymously assert the ownership of an asset.
"Primecoin solves a somewhat useful mathematical problem instead of completely wasting computer cycles like Bitcoin does."
Yeah, this was something which always bugged me about bitcoin - so much energy goes to waste and so much CO2 gets released into atmosphere to support the currency.
"The financial sector will lose it's grip pretty quickly on all this."
This is very funny given that Bitcoin is currently being integrated into the "official" financial system as another commodity or currency (depending on the jurisdiction).
The financial sector is *taking over* Bitcoin as we speak.
What other revenue stream Google has, than search? If MS is a one trick pony, the more is Google.
This program will spare us from having to kill off all these thousands of cattle just because 1 or 2 was diagnosed with some rare disease.
Again, this is a metaphor targeted at non-professional audience. "They were two qubits" sounds more tangible than "held two qubits of data".
PhD's are the main source of low-paid labour for US universities and research centers.
The fact that they managed to construct a quantum computing device using solid-state physics is a technological breakthrough. It may revive the interest in the topic (which was fading due to lack of technological progress).
I read that algorithms based on elliptic functions are immune to quantum algorithms, but this may have changed now.
PS. And they did explain later in the text that "While each qubit is actually made up of a billion aluminum atoms, it acts like a single atom that can occupy two different energy states.". You are splitting hairs, my friend ;-)
That's why these were called "artifical atoms" (emphasis added). I think that it is a sufficiently accurate description for an article targeted at non-professional audience.
Open Office has Writer in place of Word, and Calc for Excel.
Can they use this? Can I plug into them the software produced by this fine company?
It's one think to require a key to use an app but it's totally different to require the app access to the net so it can contact MS's servers
OMG, a XXIth century company using XXIth technology for copyright protection. How dare they! They should stick to methods which even a 12 year old kid can break, is that what you're saying?
It's also treating users like criminals when apps install a bunch of spyware such as Windows Genuine Advantage.
Non sequitur.
Yet MS is the only one I know that requires that.
Other vendors do it as well.
Two out of three Windows PCs I bought new did.
Did you pay $200 for each of them, or was it total? ;-)
I also had to have hardware replaced on my PCs, I had to replace the motherboards and harddisks on two new Windows PC within a year
Because you bought cheap crap. No wonder it was crashing.
I never did install Linux though, because the original hardware was not compatible.
:D
it would have been if they had rushed into switching over
But not switching over and remaining in a limbo is not a sustainable long-term policy. Think about the inconvenience of having two different spreadsheets in use across the administration.
But I agree they could have saved money by using a disto that was available instead of programming their own.
AFAIR they tried, but it turned out to be impossible. Go Linux!
Linux and open source is costly?
In terms of time, for example.
as well as all the apps needed for an office
For most people, if it doesn't have Word & Excel, it doesn't have "all the apps needed for an office".
And it came with an OS from a company that treats it's customers like criminals.
Propaganda slogan.
My other reason was because I got sick and tired of my Windows PCs constantly crashing
Funny thing, my Windows PC does not crash.
having to replace hardware
On a Windows PC you actually *can* replace hardware. On a Linux box, you stick to the working configuration you've got, because buying any new piece of hardware involves doing research on the internet checking if distro X supports hardware Y, version Z.
and reinstalling Windows
What for? I just installed my Windows 2 years after changing the motherboard ago and never reinstalled it again.
What's more costly is paying for something that is not usable!!!
But you said you don't pay for Linux? ;-)
It is still a failure. All these years, they've been employing a group of programmers writing their own version of Linux. Think about the costs.
This is a perfect example of how Open Source cult is a cost to the many, but the source of cushy jobs for the few.
Sounds scary, I agree.