Wacky Physics: Are Entangled Particles Connected by Wormholes?

Quantum entanglement (also known as "spooky action at a distance") is one of the most bizarre things we see happening with particle interactions on a microscale. Instead of acting as one solitary particle, certain pairs act as one - always knowing what the other is doing (and changing based on the characteristics of its partner) - despite being located vast distances apart. Obviously, this is problematic. Relativity says that nothing can travel faster than the speed of light. Yet, that's exactly what entangled particles are doing - passing along information at speeds far exceeding light-speed travel - the universal speed limit. We shouldn't rush to make adjustments to general relativity though, as one hypothesis has been put forth that combines quantum entanglement with a darling (yet highly theoretical) concept - Einstein-Rosen bridges (commonly known as wormholes).

According to a paper, published by Juan Maldacena and Leonard Susskind: entangled particles may be connected to one another by infinitesimally small wormholes - tunnel-like portals that connect two distant regions of space. This is how they are able to exchange signals almost instantaneously - even when they are located on opposite ends of the universe. The whole thing centers on a concept called an eternal black hole - another highly theoretical concept that postulates an entirely different universe can be found on the "other side" of a black hole (to get to it, one must delve into the black hole's event horizon - the point of no return - before traveling into the singularity. Assuming you survive the spaghettification process - you would hypothetically pop back out into a different universe than the one you originated from). In layman terms, this indicates black holes are actually bridges that connect separate universes. (Or to put it another way, one single black hole exists in two universes)
References, sources, and further reading can be found here: http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/wacky-physics-are-entangled-particles-connected-by-wormholes/

The Inner Workings of Particle Accelerators

One of the greatest accomplishments of modern science is the invention of the particle accelerator. These massive machines have allowed scientists to study the fundamental laws that govern matter and they've given us a glimpse into the nature of the universe only a trillionth of a second after the big bang. Particle accelerators have been responsible for confirming, validating, supporting, refuting, and debunking a very large number of theories and hypothesis in specific regards to the standard model of particle physics - a unifying theory combining the strong force, weak force, and electromagnetic force that governs the world of the very small. The accomplishments of particle accelerators are just as exciting as how these behemoths actually work.

To read the full article, see: http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/the-inner-workings-of-particle-accelerators/

Worlds with Two Stars: The Kepler-47 System

If you think it’s hard to be in a stable orbit around one star, think of how hard it must be to maintain an orbit around two. Binary star systems are the most common type of star system we have found. For quite some time, astronomers have known of exoplanets orbiting binary star systems (these planets are called cicumbinary planets). Recently however, in a binary star system 4,900 light-years from Earth, astronomers have discovered two planets in a stable orbit. This is exciting because it tells us that multiple planets can form and remain in a stable orbit around binary systems…ultimately opening the way for the possibility of the existence of more planets (and, potentially, habitable worlds – how would you like that sunrise?).

To read the full article, see: http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/worlds-with-two-stars-the-kepler-47-system/

Voyager from Earth and the Sound of Space

Voyager has been doing some cool stuff since it crossed into interstellar space in August. NASA and JLP confirmed the start of Voyager 1's interstellar journey earlier this week, which, thus far, hasn't happened before (so, it seems like Voyager *really* has left the solar system).

The first image I have for you is Voyager as seen from Earth. That little blue dot is none other than the "little probe that could," located some 18.5- billion kilometers (11.5-billion miles) away from the pale blue dot (as of Feb. 21, 2013 when this image was taken). That little blue smug is Voyager's radio signal and required the use of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory's Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA), which is a 8,000 km (5,000 mi) wide telescope that works using astronomical interferometry. This process links telescopes together so they act as one, much larger, much more powerful, and much more sensitive telescope so astronomers can see more detail.

Pictures, Videos, references, sources, and further reading can be found here: http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/voyager-from-earth-and-the-sound-of-space/

APOD: 9/14/13 - Hubble Spots a Lone Neutron Star

In this old image, which was released back in the late 90's, Hubble spied with its right eye something... well. What is it? As it turns - pictured near the center (where the small arrow points) is a lone neutron star, wandering about the interstellar medium. This is incredible for several reasons, but lets just start with the discovery of the object at all. Neutron stars - the remnants of massive stars that went supernova, without having the appropriate mass to collapse into a singularity - are very small - typically only a few kilometers in diameter. This particular one is believed to be merely 16.8 miles (or about 28 kilometers) across, with its location coming in at an estimated 400 light-years from Earth (it can be found in the constellation of Coronae Australis). Despite being so small and distant, the compact object is still very hot and quite bright; making it stick out like a sore thumb from its immediate surroundings. With that in mind, take a moment to appreciate the fact that Hubble can resolve such an extraordinarily unlikely find. That - paired with the fact that Hubble experienced several major problems during the first ten years of its mission - make a seemingly uninteresting object fascinating.

References, sources, and further reading can be found here: http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/apod-91413-hubble-spots-a-lone-neutron-star/

APOD: 9/1/13 - Machholz & The 7 Sisters

This lovely image captures two celestial beauties in the same frame; captured by noted astrophotographer, Stefan Seip.

First, we have comet Machholz, which made a visit to the inner solar system in 2005. Next, we have the famous Pleiades cluster - containing the seven sisters. The tail of Machholz can be seen streaking across the interstellar medium - seemingly involved in a tango with the sisters. When, in fact, neither feature is anywhere near the other. Instead; they are a vast distance apart - it just looks that way from our perspective.

Comet Machholz itself is magnificently huge - with green coma extending across more than 3 times the width of the diameter of Jupiter. The comet itself, on the other hand, is tiny in comparison - coming in at only a few kilometers across.

Not to negate those other characteristics, but the most profoundly beautiful part of Machholz is its double tail. One of them is an ion tail, which is comprised of electrically charged ions. They tend to be discharged into the surrounding space by solar wind ejected from the sun.

The other tail is a dust tail. Tails of this kind have a tendency to curve around - always pointing away from the star in question.

Undressing the Atom: Imaging its Wave Function

Image Credit: APS/Alan Stonebraker

That blue, pixilated image, ladies and gentlemen, is the very first image of an atom’s electron orbital structure. In other words, you’re looking at the first picture of an atom’s wave function.

Here, scientists are gazing into the structure of a hydrogen atom, the simplest atom in existence. Until very recently, scientists have been restricted to using mathematical equations and formulas to describe the wave functions of atoms – after all, when you’re dealing with something that small (super-microscopic?), simply sticking a conventional microscope on it won’t work. This is why an international team of physicists turned to a quantum microscope, which is a rather simple name for a device that uses photoinization microscopy to directly measure the atom’s structure.

Examples of four atomic hydrogen states. The middle column shows the experimental measurements, while the column at right shows the time-dependent Schrödinger equation calculations — and they match up rather nicely.
Image Credit: APS/Alan Stonebraker

As the name suggests, scientists fired laser pulses at the hydrogen atom. This process ionizes electrons forcing them to follow a particular path. From here, a detector plotted these electrons. The team took a large number of measurements and averaged out the disturbance patterns of the data they collected. The end result is a very ‘crisp’ image of a hydrogen atom’s wave function magnified more than 20,000 times.

You’ve been scienced.

Undressing the Atom: Imaging its Wave Function