Variable Constants?

Whether all the constants in science (especially physics) are truly constant is a question that sometimes comes up (often, with respect to the anthropic principle and a fine tuned universe).  Obviously, such a thing would have huge implications for the assumptions and the conclusions of science.

I wanted to draw attention to a paper that has been recently submitted for peer review, "Evidence for spatial variation of the fine structure constant" by John K. Webb (Univ. of South Wales), et. al., and which proposes that the fine structure constant is varying.  Here is a nice summary at Technology Review, along with some interesting blog comments afterward.

Keep in mind that this paper's results may be refuted or they may be further verified (whether next month or 40 years from now).  However, neither such results, nor the refutation thereof, affect the certainty of the creation account recorded in Genesis nor our God's promises to us in Christ.

Mostly Empty Space

I've recently finished A Matter of Days by Hugh Ross as well as the "podclass," Principles of Evolution, Ecology and Behavior (EEB122; Spring, 2009; Prof. Stephen C. Stearns) from Yale University (the podclass was obtained from iTunesU).  I'm working on several comments for each as there are some noteworthy things that I want to point out.

In the mean time, I've started another podclass on chemistry, Principles of Chemical Science (MIT, 5.111, Fall 2008).  In one of the opening lectures, the professor commented on the diameter of the atom (electrons, protons and neutrons) as well as the diameter of the atomic nucleus (only the protons and neutrons at the center of the atom).  The diameter of the atomic nucleus is on the order of 10E-12 cm while the diameter of the entire atom is on the order of 10E-8 cm.  So, the diameter of the atom is roughly four orders of magnitude larger than its nucleus.

What this means is, if we would think of an atom (i.e., the diameter of the electron cloud) as approximately the same diameter as that of a basketball then the atomic nucleus would be approximately the diameter of several human hairs.  This is somewhat simplistic since I'm ignoring the moving electron cloud and the atomic forces.  Still, I find it interesting that matter, as we currently understand it, is mostly made up of empty space.

Faster Than the Speed of Light?

{revised 10/14/10}
This post has nothing really to do with creationism/evolution but is an interesting scientific tidbit I recently found.  I'm close to finishing a "podclass" (Nuclear Engineering 101, U.C. Berkeley, Fall 2009, Prof. Eric Norman; see iTunes U).   It's been a real interesting class and the professor seems quite good in his teaching abilities.

In one of the latest lectures, the professor notes how it is often heard that nothing can go faster than the speed of light.  To be specific, Einstein said that nothing can move faster than the speed of light in a vacuum (it's always important to be specific about what is said).  The mathematical notation "c" (from the Latin, celeritas, meaning speed or swiftness) is often used to denote the speed of light in a vacuum.  However, when light travels through other media, it often travels at a speeds less than "c". An example of this is when light travels through water, it only travels at approximately 0.75c, that is, 3/4 the speed of light in a vacuum (as a sidelight, you can calculate this speed by using the refractive index of the material).  

What is interesting is that, in the same medium in which light travels less than "c" (in this example of a water medium, the velocity is 0.75c), very small charged particles (e.g. electrons or muons) can travel faster than 0.75c without violating the laws of relativity.  When these particles travel faster than the speed of light, radiation/photons are emitted as something analogous to a sonic boom is produced (sort of like a photonic or electromagnetic shock wave).  This radiation is called "Cherenkov Radiation" and has the characteristic blue glow that one sometimes sees in movies when nuclear reactors are depicted (see picture; obtained from Wikimedia Commons and is in the public domain).