The Random Comic Strip

The Random Comic Strip

Words to live by...

"How beautiful it is to do nothing, and to rest afterward."

[Spanish Proverb]

Ius luxuriae publice datum est

(The right to looseness has been officially given)

"Everyone carries a part of society on his shoulders," wrote Ludwig von Mises, "no one is relieved of his share of responsibility by others. And no one can find a safe way for himself if society is sweeping towards destruction. Therefore everyone, in his own interest, must thrust himself vigorously into the intellectual battle."

Apparently, the crossword puzzle that disappeared from the blog, came back.


Friday, January 31, 2014

Black Holes?


It appears that Stephen Hawking has upset the scientific community... once again. This time because of his commentary about black holes.

I don't understand it (I simply do not have the skill set) and have always thought theoretical things tend to be untrue; that we learn that whatever is theorized turns out to have some truth and a lot of theory. And that the truth that is finally revealed is that science was fooled by the original theory.

Black holes, for example. I understand why they are called that; the gravitational pull is so great that even light cannot escape. Except that only apples to the light that gets close enough to the gravitational pull. That is, the atoms and molecules that are excited (thereby creating light) are on the edge of this. I think we should call them "Bright Holes" instead. Because I think that light, the light that begins just before the gravitational pulls sucks it in, should be perceptible.

When I think of something described as a "black hole", I picture a bright swirling mixture of  gases and dust. But the gravitational pull which excites the molecules and atoms should not be limited to just the material on the same plane but in all directions and, presumably, would excite (and, therefore, light up) the material in front, as well as alongside, this massive gravity well. In other words, a ball of light.

But I am no astrophysicist. It shows, doesn't it?


2 comments:

Pearl said...

Your understanding is the same as mine.

That is to say, what we've been taught to understand.

And Stephen Hawking? The man is brilliant -- I will always listen to what he has to say!

Pearl

Joe Pereira said...

I guess Hawking being the man who brought black holes to the fore back in the 70s, is modifying his own theory. A scientific theory is a work-in-progress and the brilliant man is simply updating is work now he has a broader understanding of quantum physics. Event Horizons are not conducive with Quantum Physics -apparently...and any lay person who claims to understand quantum physics doesn't understand quantum physics.And I certainly don't :)