What are the properties of empty space?

How does science work? And what's all this about quantum mechanics?

Moderators: AMod, iMod

uwot
Posts: 6092
Joined: Mon Jul 23, 2012 7:21 am

Re: What are the properties of empty space?

Post by uwot »

The way to discover the properties of empty space, or indeed anything, is to look. The way that theoretical physicists work is actually very simple: they look at the universe, see what it does and from that information, they try to come up with an hypothesis that accounts for those facts. That's easy enough, but what makes it a scientific hypothesis is if it makes predictions about some property that hasn't yet been observed.
Any fool can do the first bit, you can make up any story you like to account for what you see, but when people say: 'So what?', a scientist will roll up their sleeves and devise an experiment the result of which will be something unseen before and which supports the idea. Conspiracy nuts, on the other hand, will start whining about how information is being ignored or even suppressed. When asked why, there is usually some additional story about an 'elite', or if the conspiracy theorist is particularly bonkers, some malevolent, probably alien and quite possibly reptilian establishment.
The properties of empty space are what they are; we may never know all of them, but the only way to find out is to look.
User avatar
WanderingLands
Posts: 819
Joined: Wed Jan 08, 2014 3:39 am
Contact:

Re: What are the properties of empty space?

Post by WanderingLands »

Arising_uk wrote:You really are the full biscuit aren't you. Tell you what, stop waffling conspiracy theories, go learn Physics and Maths and prove your 'science' right and the 'scientific establishment' wrong. It's easy, a bit of hard work and application, experimentation, peer review and bingo, the Noble Prize is yours.
I don't really care for a Noble Prize, nor do I care at all fr working within the establishment. I just learn for the sake of satisfaction and curiousity, even if it means looking into 'conspiracy theories'. We're obviously not on the same page, and I acknowledge that.
User avatar
Arising_uk
Posts: 12259
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 2:31 am

Re: What are the properties of empty space?

Post by Arising_uk »

Philosophy Explorer wrote:Trying to imitate me. Never!!!
Why would I wish to imitate you?
The NOVA program I watched said that empty space had many properties. Wanna (bad grammar) try again?
Given you watched the program I'd have thought you could tell me? But at a guess I'd say that they said that 'empty space' is neither empty nor simply space. Unless of course they were talking about spacetime but that'd be a different thing.
User avatar
Arising_uk
Posts: 12259
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 2:31 am

Re: What are the properties of empty space?

Post by Arising_uk »

WanderingLands wrote:I don't really care for a Noble Prize, nor do I care at all fr working within the establishment. ...
Why? Because it might involve actually working and being challenged to prove your ideas?
I just learn for the sake of satisfaction and curiousity, even if it means looking into 'conspiracy theories'.
So far thats all your learning appears to be. Your satisfaction and curiosity means you self-select and never have to engage in ideas that challenge your thoughts. Nor do you have to prove them.
We're obviously not on the same page, and I acknowledge that.
I've said before, I think you can think but are not challenging yourself in the correct way, if you wish to find truth that is. So first learn what is on offer and then prove how it is wrong.
User avatar
WanderingLands
Posts: 819
Joined: Wed Jan 08, 2014 3:39 am
Contact:

Re: What are the properties of empty space?

Post by WanderingLands »

Arising_uk wrote:Why? Because it might involve actually working and being challenged to prove your ideas?
No - I just don't want to do it for the expectations of an 'award'.
Arising_uk wrote: So far thats all your learning appears to be. Your satisfaction and curiosity means you self-select and never have to engage in ideas that challenge your thoughts. Nor do you have to prove them.
Quite bold claim, but I am actually quite open to other things, and I do admit though, that I do tend to relapse into dogmatism. I believe what you said applies to anyone, which can include those who just reject 'conspiracy theorists' and categorize them as 'fringe' and extremists' and ignore the vast amounts of information from that group that could actually be true, and vice versa.
Arising_uk wrote: I've said before, I think you can think but are not challenging yourself in the correct way, if you wish to find truth that is. So first learn what is on offer and then prove how it is wrong.
Okay then.
User avatar
Arising_uk
Posts: 12259
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 2:31 am

Re: What are the properties of empty space?

Post by Arising_uk »

WanderingLands wrote:No - I just don't want to do it for the expectations of an 'award'.
The award has got bugger all to do with it, that just appears if you've successfully studied whats on offer and if you manage to challenge whats on offer in a way that is incontrovertible then you get a higher award.
Quite bold claim, but I am actually quite open to other things, and I do admit though, that I do tend to relapse into dogmatism. I believe what you said applies to anyone, which can include those who just reject 'conspiracy theorists' and categorize them as 'fringe' and extremists' and ignore the vast amounts of information from that group that could actually be true, and vice versa.
Anything can 'actually be true' the point is to prove it to others. Thats why such groups are on the fringes as they cannot prove what they say.
Okay then.
Look forward to hearing of your award ceremony. No need to go, I never bothered.
Post Reply