[extropy-chat] New Scientist: 13 things that do not make sense

[Mike Lorrey]

--- Russell Wallace <russell.wallace at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Sat, 26 Mar 2005 16:16:38 +0100, Amara Graps
> <Amara.Graps at ifsi.rm.cnr.it> wrote:
> > New Scientist: 13 things that do not make sense
> > http://www.newscientist.com/channel/space/mg18524911.600
> 
> Not a bad roundup of current apparent anomalies, though some
> silliness
> and basic errors as well.
> 
> > In fact, the strong nuclear force that would hold them together is
> tuned in such a way that it can't even hold two lone neutrons
> together, let alone four.
> 
> I was under the impression that the strong nuclear force can happily
> hold neutrons together, it's just that in the absence of protons,
> neutrons decay with a half-life of about 12 minutes (plenty long
> enough for a tetraneutron to show up at a detector); someone correct
> me if I'm wrong?

I think that it is very interesting that there are several phenomena
which indicate the fine structure constant alpha is variable. "Once is
happenstance, twice is coincidence, three times is enemy action."

Mike Lorrey
Vice-Chair, 2nd District, Libertarian Party of NH
"Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom.
It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves."
                                      -William Pitt (1759-1806) 
Blog: http://intlib.blogspot.com


		
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