Seven Simple Ways We Know Einstein Was Right (For Now)

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For 100 years, Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity has survived just about every test that physicists have thrown at it. Announced in November 1915, the famous scientist’s field equations expanded on Isaac Newton’s long-standing laws by re-imagining gravity as a warping in the fabric of space and time, rather than a simple force between objects.

The results of using general relativity equations actually look similar to what you get using Newton’s math, as long as the masses involved aren’t too large and the velocities are relatively small compared to the speed of light. But the concept was a revolution for physics.

Warped space-time means that light itself is affected by gravity much more strongly than Newton predicted. It also means that planets move around their orbits in a slightly altered but very significant way, and it predicts the existence of exotic objects such as monster black holes and wormholes.

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These galaxies are smiling at you thanks to general relativity. (NASA/ESA)
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Click link below for seven ways:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/seven-simple-ways-we-know-einstein-was-right-180957157/

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Three-Body Problem Breakthrough: Physicists Discover New Solutions To Age-Old Puzzle

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It’s the sort of abstract puzzle that keeps a scientist awake at night: Can you predict how three objects will orbit each other in a repeating pattern? In the 300 years since this “three-body problem” was first recognized, just three families of solutions have been found. Now, two physicists have discovered 13 new families. It’s quite a feat in mathematical physics, and it could conceivably help astrophysicists understand new planetary systems.

The trove of new solutions has researchers jazzed. “I love these things,” says Robert Vanderbei, a mathematician at Princeton University who was not involved in the work. He says he, in fact, spent all night thinking about the work.

The three-body problem dates back to the 1680s. Isaac Newton had already shown that his new law of gravity could always predict the orbit of two bodies held together by gravity—such as a star and a planet—with complete accuracy. The orbit is basically always an ellipse. However, Newton couldn’t come up with a similar solution for the case of three bodies orbiting one another.

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Solutions to the three-body problem, such as the “figure eight” and “yarn,” can be viewed on an abstract shape-sphere.

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.Click link below for story, slideshow, and video:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/11/three-body-problem-solutions_n_2853631.html?utm_hp_ref=science

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Shourryya Ray, 16-Year-Old German Student, Dubbed ‘Genius’ For Cracking 350-Year-Old Isaac Newton Puzzle

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Shourryya Ray, a 16-year-old German student, has cracked a puzzle that has stumped mathematicians since Sir Isaac Newton first posed the problem more than 350 years ago.

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Sir Isaac Newton

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.Click link below for article:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/27/shourryya-ray-16-year-old_n_1549172.html

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