Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Everyday life is basically understood

Interesting couple of posts.

One.
Two.

The basic argument is that while everyday phenomena can be hideously complex (turbulence, for example), the basic laws governing them are completely understood. There is no everyday example of something that violates quantum mechanics or relativity, you have to go well beyond the everyday to find situations where we don't even know the basic rules that apply.

Of course, knowing the basic laws (i.e., equations) is one thing. Solving them is completely another, plenty to keep scientists gainfully employed for some time to come.

1 comment:

  1. Asimov had something to say on the subject as well: http://hermiene.net/essays-trans/relativity_of_wrong.html

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