[ExI] Neutrino interaction web

[Anders Sandberg]

Adrian Tymes wrote:
> Simple exclusion.  Neutrinos can slip through the spaces inside ordinary
> matter, because they don't interact electromagnetically.  But they can't
> actually occupy the same space as a neutron, can they?
>   

Sorry, particle physics doesn't behave much according to common sense.

Remember that neutrinos and quarks are as far as we know point 
particles, and the neutron is about 2*10^-16 m across. Most of it is 
empty space. Worse, if two particles have no interactions allowed my 
understanding of quantum field theory says that they will just pass 
through each other. A bit like how light gets through glass since there 
is no electrons with the right energy gap for it to react with.



Ben Zaiboc wrote:
> Creating a molecule with just 3 carbon atoms would be .. difficult .. 
You are just pessmistic. It exists: cyclopropane.

At least chemistry makes sense. But it is after all almost on our own 
size scale.

-- 
Anders Sandberg,
Future of Humanity Institute 
James Martin 21st Century School 
Philosophy Faculty 
Oxford University