Thursday, December 6, 2012
EINSTEIN'S SKEPTICISM
Many read Einstein solely for physics, but I take him at a much broader level. He applied Greek skepticism. He analyzed every theory regardless of its popularity. He begins Relativity with this introduction:
PHYSICAL MEANING OF GEOMETRICAL PROPOSITIONS
In your schooldays most of you who read this book made acquaintance with the noble building of Euclid's geometry, and you remember -- perhaps with more respect than love -- the magnificent structure, on the lofty staircase of which you were chased about for uncounted hours by conscientious teachers. By reason of your past experience, you would certainly regard every one with disdain who should pronouce even the most out-of-the-way proposition of this science to be untrue. But perhaps this feeling of proud certainty would leave you immediately were some one to ask you: "What, then, do you mean by the assertion that these propositions are true?" Let us proceed to give this question a little consideration.
For Einstein, even the most basic theories were subject to question. To be true to Einstein's method, we must question every theory, even the Theory of Relativity.
Of course, Relativity has been confirmed countless times. Eddington confirmed it. Later, observation of muon decay confirmed it. It's confirmed in nuclear reactors every day. And that's only a partial list.
But at a philosophical level, Einstein questioned every theory. That's skepticism. It's only natural to follow Einstein and question every proposition, even Relativity.
Saturday, November 17, 2012
HAM INTERVIEWS WADE (CONTINUED)
Ham: Now, continuing on with further dissertations, ad litum, ad vilitivium, etcetera, etcetera... I should note forth first -- and perhaps most importantly...
Wade: What are you trying to say?
Ham: Well, you see, various theories have been promulgated ---
Wade: You're a gorilla.
Ham: Ad nauseum.... pardon me? Did I understand you correctly? You're calling ME a gorilla?
Wade: Don't take it personally.
Ham: Oh nothing personal. Well, now let's see. Where was I? Yes, indeed. You see, perhaps the most important concept, indeed, one might even go far as to say, crucial concept, concerning various proposals that have made theoretical concepts of a more critically practical introspective nature...
Wade: That's enough.
Wade: What are you trying to say?
Ham: Well, you see, various theories have been promulgated ---
Wade: You're a gorilla.
Ham: Ad nauseum.... pardon me? Did I understand you correctly? You're calling ME a gorilla?
Wade: Don't take it personally.
Ham: Oh nothing personal. Well, now let's see. Where was I? Yes, indeed. You see, perhaps the most important concept, indeed, one might even go far as to say, crucial concept, concerning various proposals that have made theoretical concepts of a more critically practical introspective nature...
Wade: That's enough.
Friday, November 16, 2012
December 15th Book Signing - Books-A-Million
On Saturday, December 15th, noon-5:55pm, I'll be signing 'Question Answered' and 'Other Life Exists' at Books-A-Million. (770)-529-6619. 3372 Cobb Pkwy NW, Ste 100, Acworth, GA, 30101.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
New Intellectual Theories
Newton's Theory of Gravity wasn't the first theory. Nor was Maxwell's Theory of Electromagnetism.
So too with Einstein's Theory of Relativity. It wasn't the first theory; it won't be the last.
So too with Einstein's Theory of Relativity. It wasn't the first theory; it won't be the last.
HAM INTERVIEWS WADE (CONTINUED)
Ham: You see kid, you gotta understand the business.
Wade: Oh yeah?
Ham: Yeah. You know, I've been around a long time. Space travel, that sort of thing. It wasn't easy designing a rocket for NASA. You young guys, you think you know everything. If you're so smart, how do you get over to the next galaxy? Ever given that any thought?
Wade: Well, I... suppose that would take effort.
Ham: That's right. Think about it. Give it some thought. You expect me to work on union wages. It's ridiculous. I've been around. Got an established name. I WAS THE FIRST CHIMP IN SPACE. And besides, men are apes.
Wade: Men are apes?
Ham: That's right.
Wade: Actually, men are men and apes are apes.
Ham: What do you know?
Wade: More than you.
Ham: How do you KNOW you know more than me?
Wade: That's my view of the world.
Ham: Well...
Wade:
Ham: ... If you don't shutup, I'll cutoff this interview...
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Intellectual Schemata
I mean no offense to Einstein or his followers. I respect all the various physical theories -- Newton, Gamow, and Maxwell. I've studied them. I've studied others. But these are only intellectual schemata.
I really wish physicists could think a little more like attorneys who are comfortable with exceptions. The common phrase is there's an exception for every rule. I understand that Einstein's Theory of Relativity prohibits travel beyond the speed of light. But again, this is only one intellectual schemata.
I really wish physicists could think a little more like attorneys who are comfortable with exceptions. The common phrase is there's an exception for every rule. I understand that Einstein's Theory of Relativity prohibits travel beyond the speed of light. But again, this is only one intellectual schemata.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
HAM THE SPACE CHIMP INTERVIEWS WADE HOBBS
an exclusive for BigQuestionAnswered.blogspot.com...
Image courtesy of NASA.
Ham: Wade...
Wade: Don't say it.
Ham: Wade, what makes you an idiot?
Wade: That's highly offensive.
Ham: You're an idiot.
Wade: I'm smarter than you.
Ham: No you're not.
Wade: Prove it.
Ham: Easily done.
Wade: Go right ahead chimp.
Ham: In the 1950's, I went to space.
Wade: So what.
Ham: What do you mean, so what?
Wade: I mean I'm talking to a chimp, chimp. You went to space, but you don't know the meaning of so what?
Ham: You're an ape.
Wade: Takes one to know one...
Ham: Give it a rest.
Wade: Why don't you?
Ham: Look. I'm simply trying to make a point. I was the first American in space. Do you understand that? Comprehend? I was there before Alan Shepard.
Wade: Yeah but he played golf before you.
Ham: Look kid...
Wade: Have you even played golf?
Ham: Look-
Wade: Been to the moon?
Ham: Look. Enough. Just wait a minute.
Wade: Easily.
Ham: You're kind of a young whippersnapper, aren't you?
Wade: I just think I'm smarter than you, Ham.
Ham: Au contraire.
Wade: Why don't you get clucked.
Ham: What do you mean, clucked.
Wade: I mean, Get clucked.
Ham: Such language. Watch it or I'll have you kicked out of the space program.
Wade: Humph... Ham you're a chimp.
Ham: I also beat the Russians to space, did you notice that?
Wade: Yeah right.
Ham: Why the chimp-ophobia?
Wade: Oh Jesus.
Ham: Do you feel uncomfortable around chimps? Have you seen a professional? I AM a chimp.
Wade: Dear God.
Ham: Let's not get into religion.
Wade: Ok. Look. My point is that you never played golf on the moon did you?
Ham: So.
Wade: Well...
Copyright, 2012. Wade Hobbs
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Excerpt from 'Question Answered'
A Dude named Democritus
Democritus was an ancient Greek. In fact, he was young at some point but eventually became a philosopher. He lived over 2,000 years ago. Modern philosophers like Dr. David Darling, who earned his PhD at Manchester University, credit Democritus with the original idea that life must live outside Earth. Dr. Darling is reviving the idea.
In his online Encyclopedia of Science, Dr. Darling explains that the planets are not entirely separate worlds, despite traditional beliefs. When a large asteroid falls to Mars, for example, the impact throws debris into space. Very large impacts throw huge amounts of debris into space, and over the course of millions or billions of years, some of the debris reaches the Earth, where it falls in the form of meteorites. The Earth is 4.57 billion years old so plenty of material has transferred between the neighboring planets. Geologists offer the Martian meteorites on Earth as evidence.
This is a really cool picture of the rover. Image courtesy of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Another meteorite comes from the asteroid Vesta. The meteorite and the asteroid share a common chemical composition.
Both Jupiter and Earth come from the original planetary nebula that formed the Solar System. And over the course of 4.57 billion years, material may have transferred between the two bodies, or between one of the Jovian moons and Earth. During those billions of years, an asteroid may have impacted a Jovian moon, sending debris into space. Eventually, such debris may have gravitated to Earth’s surface as a meteorite. But currently scientists have only found meteorites from Mars, Vesta, and the moon.
Alternatively, debris from a large meteorite collision here on Earth might find its way into space. For very large meteorites, like the one that hit near the Yucatan peninsula and killed the dinosaurs, debris might be thrown into space.
An asteroid transferring materials between a small Jovian moon and Earth is an even more likely scenario. A large asteroid might for example, collide with one of the small Jovian moons and survive the collision. Material from each body might transfer. As the asteroid approaches the Sun, collisions with other asteroids might send debris to Earth.
Copyright, 2012. Wade Hobbs.
Democritus was an ancient Greek. In fact, he was young at some point but eventually became a philosopher. He lived over 2,000 years ago. Modern philosophers like Dr. David Darling, who earned his PhD at Manchester University, credit Democritus with the original idea that life must live outside Earth. Dr. Darling is reviving the idea.
In his online Encyclopedia of Science, Dr. Darling explains that the planets are not entirely separate worlds, despite traditional beliefs. When a large asteroid falls to Mars, for example, the impact throws debris into space. Very large impacts throw huge amounts of debris into space, and over the course of millions or billions of years, some of the debris reaches the Earth, where it falls in the form of meteorites. The Earth is 4.57 billion years old so plenty of material has transferred between the neighboring planets. Geologists offer the Martian meteorites on Earth as evidence.
Another meteorite comes from the asteroid Vesta. The meteorite and the asteroid share a common chemical composition.
Both Jupiter and Earth come from the original planetary nebula that formed the Solar System. And over the course of 4.57 billion years, material may have transferred between the two bodies, or between one of the Jovian moons and Earth. During those billions of years, an asteroid may have impacted a Jovian moon, sending debris into space. Eventually, such debris may have gravitated to Earth’s surface as a meteorite. But currently scientists have only found meteorites from Mars, Vesta, and the moon.
Alternatively, debris from a large meteorite collision here on Earth might find its way into space. For very large meteorites, like the one that hit near the Yucatan peninsula and killed the dinosaurs, debris might be thrown into space.
An asteroid transferring materials between a small Jovian moon and Earth is an even more likely scenario. A large asteroid might for example, collide with one of the small Jovian moons and survive the collision. Material from each body might transfer. As the asteroid approaches the Sun, collisions with other asteroids might send debris to Earth.
Copyright, 2012. Wade Hobbs.
Friday, November 2, 2012
Book Signing! Cafe de Paris
Book Signing! Saturday, November 17, 10am-2pm, Cafe de Paris, 1100 Johnson Ferry Rd, Marietta, GA 30068.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Nov. 23rd Book Signing - Cuppy's Coffee
Book Signing! Friday, 11/23/12, 8am-noon, Cuppy's Coffee, 1600 Kennesaw Due West Road Northwest Kennesaw, GA 30152. I'll have award-winning Other Life Exists and Question Answered. The latter is over 50% OFF!
We now know specifically where to find microbes beyond Earth.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Book Recommendation
I liked Stephen Hawking's On the Shoulders of Giants. It's a good reference that includes basic works by Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, Newton, and Einstein.
Monday, October 22, 2012
Book Signing - Friday, November 16th
Friday, November 16, 2012, 8:00am-noon
Panera Bread, 3384 COBB PKWY NW, ACWORTH, GA, United States 30101
I'll be signing Question Answered and Other Life Exists.
Panera Bread, 3384 COBB PKWY NW, ACWORTH, GA, United States 30101
I'll be signing Question Answered and Other Life Exists.
Friday, October 19, 2012
November 9th Book Signing - Marietta, Georgia
Book signing, Friday, November 9, 8am-12pm, at Daily Grind Coffee, 3960 Mary Eliza Trace, Marietta, GA, 30064.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Advancing Science
In Other Life Exists, I prove statistically that microbes live in Jupiter's moon Europa. I talk about larger life forms in Question Answered.
'Other Life Exists' Named Book of the Week!
Thanks again to Publish America for naming Other Life Exists Book of the Week. I'm so honored! We live in exciting times. We're the first generation to know specifically where microbes live beyond Earth. They live in Europa, Jupiter's moon. I hope readers will enjoy the proof.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Triangle Variety Radio Interview with Patrick Walters
Listen to internet radio with Triangle Variety Radio on Blog Talk Radio
Friday, October 12, 2012
I'm honored that Publish America picked Other Life Exists as a Book of the Week. I'd like to thank Willem Meiners, Denise, Tina, Bryan, Shawn, Anthony, Michael, Patrick, and everyone at Publish America. Thanks!
'OTHER LIFE EXISTS' BOOK OF THE WEEK!!
Publish America selected OTHER LIFE EXISTS as a Book of the Week today. I'm honored!
Also chosen were YVONNE AND CAROL: BLOODSISTERS FOREVER, THE CAVERNS OF MARE CETUS, and THE UNIDENTIFIABLE "VERY FIRST" BEGINNING.
Also chosen were YVONNE AND CAROL: BLOODSISTERS FOREVER, THE CAVERNS OF MARE CETUS, and THE UNIDENTIFIABLE "VERY FIRST" BEGINNING.
Other Life in the Waters of Europa?
Scientists estimate that Europa's surface ice is miles thick. Bank on this conclusion: Europa holds an ocean.
And as Authors-First Host Tony Kay suggests, other life beyond microscopic life may live in the waters of Europa. HEAR THE INTERVIEW!!
Wade Hobbs
Author, Other Life Exists, KNOWN, and Question Answered
And as Authors-First Host Tony Kay suggests, other life beyond microscopic life may live in the waters of Europa. HEAR THE INTERVIEW!!
Wade Hobbs
Author, Other Life Exists, KNOWN, and Question Answered
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Recommendations
Read Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Hilarious!
Feynman's Lectures on Physics is excellent. I recommend it to other physics students.
Feynman's Lectures on Physics is excellent. I recommend it to other physics students.
QUESTION ANSWERED - New e-book on Amazon Kindle
Life elsewhere in the Solar System? Microscopic life? Larger aquatic life forms in the newly-discovered oceans?
READ 'QUESTION ANSWERED' ON AMAZON KINDLE!!
READ 'QUESTION ANSWERED' ON AMAZON KINDLE!!
MORE WORK FOR ASTRONOMERS
As I see it, much of astronomy needs revision. Astronomers should recalculate and account for gravity waves. Gravity waves are implied by Einstein's Theory of Relativity.
Einstein didn't develop the idea of black holes. He knew Schwarzschild's Singularity Theorem. But in physics, Black Hole Theory and observations came along later. Hawking developed much of this theory.
(Cambridge don Michel reasoned that dark stars would implode. But Michel never developed the mathematics.)
Of course, now we know that black holes exist. They've been observed. We know they create gravity waves. Waves in a pool of water affect light rays, and gravity waves affect light rays from distant sources. Therefore, it would be useful to figure out how much of our astronomical observations are affected by gravity waves.
Einstein didn't develop the idea of black holes. He knew Schwarzschild's Singularity Theorem. But in physics, Black Hole Theory and observations came along later. Hawking developed much of this theory.
(Cambridge don Michel reasoned that dark stars would implode. But Michel never developed the mathematics.)
Of course, now we know that black holes exist. They've been observed. We know they create gravity waves. Waves in a pool of water affect light rays, and gravity waves affect light rays from distant sources. Therefore, it would be useful to figure out how much of our astronomical observations are affected by gravity waves.
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Read Hawking!
Read Stephen Hawking's Universe in a Nutshell and Illustrated Brief History of Time. Excellent stuff!
Revising Computational Astronomy
Einstein's view of the world stands. E=mc^2. That's obvious to some but not others. Referring back to my Gravity Objects concept, I just meant that there are other intellectual schemata where e=mc^2 doesn't apply. "Faster Than Light" is a confusion of terms.
The Livingston Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory in Louisiana confirmed General Relativity. It's been confirmed countless times. Black holes cause gravity waves. Therefore, some of astronomy needs revision. A wandering black hole moving away from earth would cause ripples and affect our images of distant stars or galaxies.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Monday, September 17, 2012
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Michael Dresser Radio Show
Listen to internet radio with Dresser After Dark on
Blog Talk Radio
Click on the light gray line to the left of the timer. Drag to minute 40.
Blog Talk Radio
Click on the light gray line to the left of the timer. Drag to minute 40.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Excerpt from "Question Answered"
Here's an excerpt from my new Kindle e-book "Question Answered."
I’m writing to inform the American public that microscopic life exists in Europa and Enceladus.
New readers will hopefully have fun. They will learn that Europa is a moon of Jupiter and Enceladus a moon of Saturn. Both moons have life.
How do I know? Statistics holds the answers, and I present a formal statistical argument at the end. I hope readers will have a pleasant read and consult the mathematical statistics only if necessary.
I’ve often read statistical arguments that prove knowledge of something. That’s all I do. I simply use statistics to prove where life exists.
The search for life is fascinating. Space agencies all over the world are attempting to observe life directly on planets, asteroids, and comets. Other pioneers are searching for fossil proof of life. The key is the definition of life. I might conclude that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Stardust Mission found life when it discovered amino acids in the tail of a comet. Amino acids are the basic building block of life, and the probe returned to Earth with the proof in 2006.
But that would leave me with nothing to write.
To avoid the writer’s nightmare, I define life as microscopic or microbial life other than simple amino acids. I avoid the issue of intelligent life and focus mainly on microbes in Europa and Enceladus. Microbes may be anything under a microscope, including new forms not present on Earth. Readers who tolerate me will know that microbes exist.
I give credit to Dr. David Darling and the Greeks.
I’m writing to inform the American public that microscopic life exists in Europa and Enceladus.
New readers will hopefully have fun. They will learn that Europa is a moon of Jupiter and Enceladus a moon of Saturn. Both moons have life.
How do I know? Statistics holds the answers, and I present a formal statistical argument at the end. I hope readers will have a pleasant read and consult the mathematical statistics only if necessary.
I’ve often read statistical arguments that prove knowledge of something. That’s all I do. I simply use statistics to prove where life exists.
The search for life is fascinating. Space agencies all over the world are attempting to observe life directly on planets, asteroids, and comets. Other pioneers are searching for fossil proof of life. The key is the definition of life. I might conclude that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Stardust Mission found life when it discovered amino acids in the tail of a comet. Amino acids are the basic building block of life, and the probe returned to Earth with the proof in 2006.
But that would leave me with nothing to write.
To avoid the writer’s nightmare, I define life as microscopic or microbial life other than simple amino acids. I avoid the issue of intelligent life and focus mainly on microbes in Europa and Enceladus. Microbes may be anything under a microscope, including new forms not present on Earth. Readers who tolerate me will know that microbes exist.
I give credit to Dr. David Darling and the Greeks.
Halley’s Comet. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration discovered amino acids in comets. Image courtesy of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Copyright, 2012. Wade Hobbs
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Neil Armstrong Passes Away
Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon, has passed away at 82. America has lost the greatest leader of the Space Age. Armstrong's words are immortal: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
Armstrong led America against the Soviets in the moon race. When he stepped on lunar dust on July 20, 1969, he fulfilled John F. Kennedy’s promise to put a man on the moon by the end of the 1960’s. Apollo 11 left a plaque which read, “We Came in Peace for All Mankind.” It reflects humanity’s aspiration for peace throughout the cosmos.
Armstrong will be sorely missed.
Armstrong led America against the Soviets in the moon race. When he stepped on lunar dust on July 20, 1969, he fulfilled John F. Kennedy’s promise to put a man on the moon by the end of the 1960’s. Apollo 11 left a plaque which read, “We Came in Peace for All Mankind.” It reflects humanity’s aspiration for peace throughout the cosmos.
Armstrong will be sorely missed.
Decatur Book Festival - September 2
I'll be presenting Other Life Exists at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Decatur Book Festival on Sunday, September 2 at 3:00pm. I'll give listeners a glimpse into the newest world of Jupiter's moons. Europa alone holds twice the saltwater of Earth. Ganymede and Callisto hold oceans, too. The radiation levels of Earth and Callisto are about the same, so many hope for human colonization.
One of NASA’s big questions is whether life lives beyond Earth. Other Life Exists proves statistically that microbes live in Europa.
Natasha Trethewey, Michael Connelly, Erin Morgenstern, Meg Cabot, Isabel Wilkerson, and some 300 other authors will attend. The fun begins August 31st at 8pm.
Copyright, 2012. Wade Hobbs
One of NASA’s big questions is whether life lives beyond Earth. Other Life Exists proves statistically that microbes live in Europa.
Natasha Trethewey, Michael Connelly, Erin Morgenstern, Meg Cabot, Isabel Wilkerson, and some 300 other authors will attend. The fun begins August 31st at 8pm.
Copyright, 2012. Wade Hobbs
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
New E-book - Question Answered
The Ancient Greeks pondered the question. Does life live beyond Earth?
With style and wit, Wade Hobbs explains that other life lives in the cosmos. He proves statistically that microbes live in Jupiter’s moon Europa. That moon holds over twice as much saltwater as Earth. The saltwater environment is essentially the same whether on Earth or Europa. Microbes see the same thing.
Despite traditional notions, Earth and Europa aren’t entirely separate worlds. They come from the same planetary nebula. Hobbs uses these observations to formally prove for the first time that life must live in Europa’s waters, just as it lives in Earth’s seas.
Buy Question Answered.
Copyright, 2012. Wade Hobbs
With style and wit, Wade Hobbs explains that other life lives in the cosmos. He proves statistically that microbes live in Jupiter’s moon Europa. That moon holds over twice as much saltwater as Earth. The saltwater environment is essentially the same whether on Earth or Europa. Microbes see the same thing.
Despite traditional notions, Earth and Europa aren’t entirely separate worlds. They come from the same planetary nebula. Hobbs uses these observations to formally prove for the first time that life must live in Europa’s waters, just as it lives in Earth’s seas.
Buy Question Answered.
Copyright, 2012. Wade Hobbs
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