**Ask a monkey a physics question thread**

[MadMojoMonkey]

MMM, if you could get the answer to one scientific question, free of charge, what would that be?

I'm guessing you mean something like, "What, in my opinion, would be the most revealing question in physics to know the answer to?"

What is the theoretical link between QM and GR?

***
There's a wiki page on unresolved problems in physics. It's not a short page.

Oh and thanks for your answer to my previous Q, I'm still digesting it. Great stuff.

I'll bet it's black-hole related

Yep.

[Savy]

I'm guessing you mean something like, "What, in my opinion, would be the most revealing question in physics to know the answer to?"

What is the theoretical link between QM and GR?

You'd choose that over fusion?

[MadMojoMonkey]

You'd choose that over fusion?

What about fusion?

What specific question do you think I'm missing?

[CoccoBill]

What about fusion?

What specific question do you think I'm missing?

Ooh I know this! Fusion is easy, in theory. It's cold fusion that's slightly problematic.

[Savy]

What about fusion?

What specific question do you think I'm missing?

Getting it to work so that it basically solves energy.

[OngBonga]

Getting it to work so that it basically solves energy.

I would've thought that if he can unify GR and QM then he would solve the energy problem.

[MadMojoMonkey]

Getting it to work so that it basically solves energy.

Fission kinda already solves this. The problems with fission come down to science communication, not physics.

If someone can convince the public that nuclear power is ridiculously much safer than burning coal / oil, with lower impact on the environment, then power problems are solved for decades.

If I could have the answer to a phsyics question, it's how can I turn dust into weed.

IDK
Have you tried planting a seed in it?

***
Does this count as "aiding and abetting?"

[OngBonga]

Have you tried planting a seed in it?

No, to be honest I never considered using dust as a growing medium. I'm unconvinced that dust has good enough hydro retention to do the job.

I guess it does depend on the nature of the dust in question, though most of the dust in my house is ash.

Does this count as "aiding and abetting?"

Nah. We're pretty slack in that respect. Seeds aren't illegal. So I could sell seeds to someone and not break the law, even if they tell me they intend to plant it, grow it and smoke it.

[MadMojoMonkey]

No, to be honest I never considered using dust as a growing medium. I'm unconvinced that dust has good enough hydro retention to do the job.

I guess it does depend on the nature of the dust in question, though most of the dust in my house is ash.

Not to spoil your fantasy, but...

The vast majority of dust in your house is human skin cells, the mites that eat human skin cells and those mites' excretions.

[Savy]

Fission kinda already solves this. The problems with fission come down to science communication, not physics.

If someone can convince the public that nuclear power is ridiculously much safer than burning coal / oil, with lower impact on the environment, then power problems are solved for decades.

It's a whole different level though and it's without all the bullshit that comes with fission.

[CoccoBill]

What is the theoretical link between QM and GR?

Ok, yeah I guess a unified theory would be a big one. I'd have started with either "what causes gravity" or "what caused the big bang" or something. I'd assume we'd get a better idea of those too with a unified theory.

[MadMojoMonkey]

Ok, yeah I guess a unified theory would be a big one. I'd have started with either "what causes gravity" or "what caused the big bang" or something. I'd assume we'd get a better idea of those too with a unified theory.

I'm not sure if these are science questions.

Science can only describe and predict "what" happens. It has nothing to say on the matter of "why" anything happens.

[CoccoBill]

I'm not sure if these are science questions.

Science can only describe and predict "what" happens. It has nothing to say on the matter of "why" anything happens.

Oh I totally meant "what" caused, not "why" in any puny-human-mind-seeking-meaning-and-purpose sense.

More in the vain of

Why does my room light up when I turn the switch?
Electricity is released on the bulb causing it to heat up and release energy in the form of visible light.
Why does the switch release electricity?
We have power plants creating it from coal, nuclear, solar, wind etc. and wires to connect it to your switch.
Why do those things have energy potential?
The sun is a huge ball of hydrogen and helium fusing due to gravity and makes all those things possible. Well, all our energy forms except for tidal and geothermal.
Why is the sun a huge ball of fusion energy?
Gravity.
Why is there gravity?
Cos something somehow bends space-time...? Fuck if I know.

On second though, this should probably be in the drunk thread.

[MadMojoMonkey]

Oh I totally meant "what" caused, not "why" in any puny-human-mind-seeking-meaning-and-purpose sense.

I wasn't sure. It seemed like I could have interpreted the questions either way.

The reason that I prefer my question is that your questions could have short answers which don't help me understand anything.

"What causes gravity?"
Flarvurum.

"What caused the Big Bang?"
A Flarvurum deficiency in the zilnoform continuum, LDO.

My question: "What is the theoretical link between QM and GR?" needs a whole theory to be explained in order to count as an answer.

On second though, this should probably be in the drunk thread.