Cracks in the Armor of Physics
Even the most seemingly invincible dynasties and empires often harbor critical vulnerabilities that, when exploited or exacerbated, can lead to their downfall and the emergence of new orders. These “cracks in the armor” can manifest in various forms, such as internal corruption, economic instability, social unrest, or a failure to adapt to changing circumstances. For example, the Roman Empire, once a monolithic power, succumbed to a combination of factors including political decay, economic woes, and barbarian invasions, eventually fragmenting into successor states in Western Europe, while the Eastern Roman Empire persisted for a time as the Byzantine Empire. Another example is the collapse of the French monarchy due to systemic inequality and fiscal irresponsibility, paving the way for the French Revolution and, ultimately, the rise of the French Republic. These new states often arise with a sense of renewal and transformation, symbolized by names like “Phoenix Rising,” suggesting a rebirth from the ashes of the old regime, and a transcendence.
The Road to Enlightenment is Filled With Good Intentions
It isn’t the intention to slight great physicists who, along the way, discovered more clues and deciphered nature’s quirks. Instead, the purpose is to understand assumptions so that further progress is achievable. By recognizing the vulnerability of the scientific community to intellectual investment, we can better navigate the pursuit of knowledge and foster an environment of open-minded inquiry.
“One of the saddest lessons of history is this: If we’ve been bamboozled long enough, we tend to reject any evidence of bamboozle. We’re no longer interested in finding out the truth. The bamboozle has captured us. It’s simply too painful to acknowledge, even to ourselves, that we’ve been taken. Once you give a charlatan power over you, you almost never get it back.” – Carl Sagan
Throughout scientific history, theories and concepts have often been intertwined, sometimes leading to unexpected turns and developments. Consider Sir Isaac Newton’s invention of calculus, motivated by the need to address specific challenges in physics, such as understanding the motion of celestial bodies and the concept of gravity. This illustrates how the development of one theory or tool can be driven by the necessity to solve problems posed by another theory. In Newton’s case, calculus provided the mathematical framework necessary to formalize his laws of motion and universal gravitation, ultimately revolutionizing our understanding of the physical world. Such instances underscore the interconnectedness and complexity of scientific endeavors, where solutions to one puzzle often give rise to new insights and innovations.
The “Bamboozles” section is designed to challenge and refine our understanding by addressing common misconceptions and areas where incomplete information might lead to misunderstandings. This section doesn’t seek to destroy ideas but rather to polish them, adding a glossy finish that acknowledges imperfections as opportunities for deeper insight and improvement.
“The assumption that fundamental properties and laws observed at accessible scales extend unchanged to inaccessible realms may be a fallacy—’the fallacy of the unknown.’” – Rod Mack
Much of the following is based on the correlation of observations with theories of the day. While it is always comforting to have a theory explained, there are some areas where more investigation is warranted. Possibly some existing assumptions are incorrect. These are listed here:
Symbols Once you have defined a symbol you have defined a point of view.
Academics Only The exclusion of non-academics from scientific discourse is a disservice to progress.
Peer Review New ideas are subject to the acceptance views of the old established gatekeepers.
Scientific Method The current scientific system is set up in a way that makes it difficult for new ideas to challenge the status quo.
Awards and Prizes Scientists may be blind to money but they sure can smell it.
Mathematics Great equations are models of possibilities, not certainties.
Schrödinger’s Wave Equation predicts impossible, not practical waveforms.
Quantization Fields Quantization in bound states is not the same as quantization in free fields.
Absolute Zero The temperature at which all atomic and molecular motion stops is impossible to achieve.
Speed of Light Einstein declared the speed of light to be a constant. It has too many foibles to be accepted dogma.
A Perfect Vacuum A theoretical vacuum that is completely devoid of any matter or energy is impossible to create.
Variable Time Einstein used time as a variable to warp space to to explain gravity in his theory of general relativity.
Atomic Time While Atomic clocks are accurate in a fixed position they are subject to the vagaries of μ0ε0.
Gravity is a Force In Newtonian physics, gravity is one of the four fundamental forces. Einstein’s GR recasts gravity as acceleration.
Gravity is Based on Mass Newton tied gravity to mass, Einstein doubled down with spacetime curvature—despite Galileo’s falling balls.
Center of Attraction Making the center of mass the center of attraction is an approximation but is flawed due to the inverse square law.
The Higgs Boson Higgs hype is a gravity crutch to replace Aether—CA’s lattice truth cuts the crap, leaving LHC’s billions as academic confetti.