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from the alas,-none-of-the-authors-was-named-'Jack' dept.
The universe can be a very sticky place, but just how sticky is a matter of debate. That is because for decades cosmologists have had trouble reconciling the classic notion of viscosity based on the laws of thermodynamics with Einstein's general theory of relativity. However, a team from Vanderbilt University has come up with a fundamentally new mathematical formulation of the problem that appears to bridge this long-standing gap.
The new math has some significant implications for the ultimate fate of the universe. It tends to favour one of the more radical scenarios that cosmologists have come up with known as the "Big Rip." It may also shed new light on the basic nature of dark energy.
The new approach was developed by Assistant Professor of Mathematics Marcelo Disconzi in collaboration with physics professors Thomas Kephart and Robert Scherrer and is described in a paper published earlier this year in the journal Physical Review D.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-06/vu-nmo063015.php
[Also Covered By]: http://phys.org/news/2015-06-cosmic-stickiness-favors-big-rip.html
Original Submission
(Score: 3, Funny) by aristarchus on Thursday July 02 2015, @04:47AM
.I just wonder how much 10% of infinity is?
Well, it is a lot. In fact, 10% of infinity approaches infinity, for some values of infinity, and if you don't accept all that mumbo jumbo about diagonal proofs and so forth. But foam, . . . on top of cappachino, I imagine, the creme de la Creme, that's us! Until the Great Rip, or the Grand Arkleseizure, which ever comes first. I can live with that.