NASA Probe Validates Einstein Within 1% 188
An anonymous reader writes "Gravity Probe B uses four ultra-precise gyroscopes to measure two effects of Einstein's general relativity theory — the geodetic effect and frame dragging. According to the mission's principal investigator, the data from Gravity Probe B's gyroscopes confirm the Einstein theory's value for the geodetic effect to better than 1%. In a common analogy, the geodetic effect is similar to the shape of the dip created when the ball is placed on to a rubber sheet. If the ball is then rotated, it will start to drag the rubber sheet around with it. In a similar way, the Earth drags local space and time around with it — ever so slightly — as it rotates. Over time, these effects cause the angle of spin of the satellite's gyroscopes to shift by tiny amounts." The investigators will be doing further data analysis over the coming months and expect to release final results late this year.
Slashdot: my source for news about... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Slashdot: my source for news about... (Score:5, Funny)
A tip o' the hat to you, sir.
Soko
Re:Virginia (Score:3, Funny)
Re:The one percent factor... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:The one percent factor... (Score:4, Funny)
My sweaty Uncle Phil must have a 198 IQ.
Re:Finally! That took long enough. (Score:2, Funny)
Re:I'll hazard three guesses. (Score:4, Funny)
Doesn't make much difference to its status (Score:3, Funny)
We need a probe to test GR at L1 point if the gravity there is significantly weaker than a0 to distinguish between MOND and DM. This IMHO is the most important test. If it is not possible to test MOND at L1 point, because the MONDian bubble is too small then there is no hope for a test within the next decade. Because that is how much time a very modern satellite will take to reach beyond the solar system where the gravity is significantly weaker than a0.
Re:Finally! That took long enough. (Score:5, Funny)
No, my friend, what you need is a warp drive.
Re:Finally! That took long enough. (Score:3, Funny)
An oscillation overdrive. That would be exactly what you need.
Now to find that rock and roll physicist that has the prototype.
Re:Well we still have wormholes (Score:2, Funny)