NASA Gravity Probe Confirms Two Einstein Predictions 139
sanzibar writes "After 52 years of conceiving, testing and waiting, marked by scientific advances and disappointments, one of Stanford's and NASA's longest-running projects comes to a close with a greater understanding of the universe. Stanford and NASA researchers have confirmed two predictions of Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity, concluding one of the space agency's longest-running projects. Known as Gravity Probe B, the experiment used four ultra-precise gyroscopes housed in a satellite to measure two aspects of Einstein's theory about gravity. The first is the geodetic effect, or the warping of space and time around a gravitational body. The second is frame-dragging, which is the amount a spinning object pulls space and time with it as it rotates."
Re:Picking nits (Score:3, Informative)
But you can confirm predictions....
Re:Picking nits (Score:4, Informative)
Mission update page is outdated, but (Score:5, Informative)
Re:I'm tired of Matt Welsh (Score:5, Informative)
The new Slashdot: too buggy to be fit for purpose.
I have to agree with this, several bugs. The most annoying one is having the comments scroll to the top of the page when I click anything.
Re:get more comments (Score:5, Informative)
The Slashdot D2 discussion system sucks. Turn it off in your account options and use the old D1. That's what I do. I much prefer to be able to see all the comments at one time.
Re:Observer effect - did it mention this? (Score:5, Informative)
t (basically ALL experience is subjective to the observer - even scientific ones...)
That's not part of quantum mechanics at all. That's a gross generalization made philosophical that arose out of an actual quantum mechanical principle.
Measurement-related QM principles, like wavefunction collapse and Heisenburg, are only meaningful when what you're observing is the size and scale of a quantum state, which is very, very small. Gravitational effects are for the most part (and in this case) for large objects, where QM principles are unimportant.
Re:Observer effect - did it mention this? (Score:4, Informative)
You need to actually study quantum physics if you want to talk about these things like an adult. It's obvious to everyone that HAS studied quantum physics that you're spouting nonsense and claiming that Science supports you. Quit watching "What the bleep do we know?". It's full of people lying to you to sell you an idea (and one scientist who was duped and every single quote taken out of context).