Trurl

Yes, I understand why scientists don’t like the story: I changed the history of Einstein. I did that not to take away his good qualities but to separate him from pacifism. I truly believe he has more to do with the nuclear program. He knew the dangers of the Nazis. He would understand why a weapon had to be built. What good would it do to be a genius and not work to save it? My story is not historical fiction but hero scientist. I am not saying it isn’t pure fiction but I am trying to write an interesting story that reflects in decision making. History is tough It is filled with misinformation. I is like when you what two different channels and the same news story is different. I think the story reads better when you ignore the fact I changed Einstein. I did want to get rid of his pacifism. I made it the time of war because it is about decision making and war is when decisions mean the most. But the theme is how to use science to improve the world and the decisions that have to be made. That is why the time traveler was debating whether to kill Einstein or Hitler. And in the end who wins when everyone has a nuclear weapon? I probably would leave it a story and not curriculum, because it isn’t intended to be historical accurate. But it asks the question: is it possible to fix time as a time traveler? Who decides what is the correct events? I think if is read knowing what I just described, you may understand why I chose Einstein. You still might not like it, but you will understand my writing process

I was rereading the Einstein short story and I kind of like it. I know that as the reader reads it and learns that in the story Einstein is not only discovered relativity, but can manipulate atoms makes some feel that Einstein has changed. But in less than 10 pages I think it has many little reflections or discussions or maybe symbolism. I am just saying it was more than just action. Like the arms race starting with Einstein sharing his knowledge with both the U.S. and Russia. Brinkmanship in game theory. The time traveler influencing history: should he kill Einstein to prevent his knowledge becoming known, or would killing Hitler stop evil only have it to be replaced by something else? Einstein was a pacifist, but he stands up to the Nazis. Plenty of stuff to create literary criticism. But I revisit this story because I am may right other short stories. Not only for entertainment, but to create curriculum. I believe I wrote the Einstein short story like a comic book. There is still symbolism and meaning in comic stories. The Marvel Way to write comics is to create the drawings first and then write the story. It sounds backwards but it produces better stories. Like when I was a kid playing with He Man or Transformers, you design the story as you battle. The description of events and dialogue are very much comic like in the Einstein short story, sometimes even silly. But sometimes there is some pretty serious meaning behind the blunt silliness of the dialogue But for now my question is: When you read the Einstein short story do you see many themes of literary criticism? Did it present deeper ideas than just Einstein fights the Nazis?

That is a good question. I think the answer varies personal to person. It could be religious, but doesn’t have to be. The book I mentioned is about observing another world. If a god designed the world it would seem that he created a simulation. But if you live in the world you are an observer and it is very much real. So how does a simulated world differ from a “real world?” The whole idea of AI and quantum computers seems like scientists building gods. I know the science isn’t there yet. That is just my assessment. Let’s build something that can manipulate the universe. What could go wrong?

I think it means design. But we were talking science fiction in another thread. A book that is science fiction and has real science with somewhat good storytelling is https://www.amazon.com/Planiverse-Computer-Contact-Two-Dimensional-World/dp/0387989161 This book is about contact with a different world.

Why would it be a simulation? In the Matrix the world is computer generated, but if the person interacts with it, it is a genuine world. I argue a simulated world is a genuine world.

@studiot Thanks for the reply. The problem I am facing is that I can find the value of the limit knowing x, but I want to find x as the limit approaches zero. I know the equation of the function should be able to be set to zero, but on a curve I can’t get it to work. I was trying to create enough information with the derivative to “make it work.” I have seen others “program” this with trial and error, but is there a known method? This is a reoccurring problem for me. Others can inspect the graphs better than I can and I made the graph. It does apply to Simple Yet Interesting. But I have moved past that problem. But the challenge of knowing x at a given limit still exists. I don’t know what the solution is. But I truly believe the answer unleashes some dynamic way to approach graphs.

This is disorganized. But I thought it had potential. Can you take the slope of a point and the start of the graph and the slope at the end of the graph and combine it with an approach similar to Newton's Method, to determine where a given value occurs? I know it sounds stupid, but I am serious. I haven't had a calculus course in 20 years. But if you look at the picture (which is also messy), it just might give you some ideas. The problem starts out to find a limit. On a graph the limit of the relative minimum is the desired value. Limit notation finds a limit 0 (zero) when x equals a known value. But it would be more useful to find the value of x when the limit equals zero. So instead of finding the limit at a given value, the goal is to find the value at a given limit. Is there a method for this? The only methods I know is to test the values until the desired point is revealed. Newton's Method may prove helpful. However test values are still need. The question is how do you find x when the y value is known, where y is the limit (zero in this case). This idea is in early stages. It is just a concept. But my question is as you look at the picture can you create useful geometry that combined with the integral and derivative can be used to map a graph? I know this is messy, but when you read it, it just might give you some good ideas.

So in your review of Dragon’s Egg did it have both story and facts? I was looking at the plot summary and it seems pretty complex and wild in a good way. He is a good writer if he can tie all those elements together. On Rocheworld would the double planet have cancelling gravity so travel between the planets is possible? The Walter Isaacson biography of Einstein says Einstein described “riding a beam light” because he read a similar story in a science fiction book. So science fiction and science influenced each other, no doubt. Swanson is for the story. I agree. We have to create an interest in the project or no will read it. I was just saying take a science fiction and create a project that has real science behind it. The idea is not original. Popular Mechanics did it with projects similar to the space elevator. For a while I thought they were just reading journal entries and summarizing them. But putting facts and creating original art is difficult. It’s like how every science fiction/fantasy book has to have a great cover.

Well I believe that Popular Mechanics and Popular Science are no longer published. Lots of quality content lost. But I share it because like a short science fiction story it leads for problems in real science. If you create a story, you have just created a lesson plan. If you told a student to try and develop a solution or find the math behind the story, they couldn’t just plug it into ai. Sure they could, but it would just be the start of more research. It is also an economic way to learn because all the tools are readily available. Some times starting to get an idea worth pursuing is difficult. Someone reads your short story or article in a magazine and it gives them ideas otherwise lost.

Well if you launch a rocket from a plane there are several advantages. You can launch it anywhere in the world and you don’t have to worry about the launch site being bombed. But I admit my science wasn’t very good. I’m just trying to brainstorm new ideas. Stuff that ai doesn’t ruin. I post a picture of a space elevator. Now I don’t think anchoring the elevator to an asteroid is going to work, but there is a valid problem that needs solved and that is to build a 20,000 mile structure that doesn’t collapse. I believe that impossible problems make excellent learn examples. If you gave a student a problem to make structures out of the atmosphere it may seem like kaka but it is a problem that ai would have trouble solving and if the student did use it, that would only be a starting point.

I just want to chime in and say that I hope the Big Beautiful Bill passes. Why? The bill will get worse with more cuts. Any change makes it even worse.

I chose to increase the atmosphere because humans can’t live in the vacuum. Traveling in the vacuum would increase speed but humans can’t withstand it. But I suppose if you could alter the atmosphere you could build a ship that had an atmosphere. But altering Earth’s atmosphere has advantages like stopping climate change. Also would it be possible to increase the layers of the atmosphere to give a plane more lift? I remember that Popular Mechanics always predicted a plane could take off and fly then reach an altitude and escape into space.I don’t know if the project ever worked. I agree. I don’t know enough about the atmosphere to avoid plot holes. But what if it was not written as traditional science fiction but a lesson plan to research things like the velocity a plane would need to escape the atmosphere? I am not an expert story teller. Sometimes a good story teller is all you need. But something like this the science has to be real. I’ve heard the transporter was invented because it was the only way to get to the planet and have it flow in the show. It basically breaks down the molecules of your body and sends them through space. I don’t know how it reassembles them or how this affects living organisms.

Thanks for the reply. I do need to research further. I can’t remember who said it but the question to ask a physicist is, “Could God have built the universe in a different way?” That is a problem: more atmospheric pressure. I choose to extend the atmosphere because the building blocks already exist. If we could control gravity it would make it easier to work. Obviously we don’t have the technology, but what if you build “atmospheric bridges” in the sky? You could put a structure of invisible gases and anchor them the surface in order to reduce atmospheric pressure. And before you answer remember it just hypothetical.

I don’t believe the world is flat, but what is the evidence for the theory that it is a sphere? Is it approximately a sphere? And why would the planets form as a sphere in the first place? Would you say intelligent design or gravity is circular? Why can’t it be a cube with an irregular 3d surface that approximates a sphere? I’m quite serious. Why are we not looking for planets in different shapes? And why are black holes logarithmic spirals? I want to write a sci-fi story where instead of using ships to explore space we instead grow the Earths atmosphere. I mean we make space livable by growing the Earth’s protective atmosphere layers. No need for oxygen you already have it. Gravity and the fact you have to travel in an airplane just might be some drawbacks. I have some ideas, but the story telling part is where it takes literarily talent. Any plot ideas?

I agree, it is ongoing. Why wouldn’t life at the moment matter? I was reading “Maverick Scientist” and there is this debate there. It says, “to be a scientist you just have to do science.” A math problem is a math problem no matter what you believe. I just think anything people are different (physically or beliefs can be manipulated to control you. I don’t have the source but it said young children would play in kindergarten no matter what race. But as they got older something (the study didn’t know why) changed. I don’t mean to bring up race. But we are believing migrants are costing us money and they don’t have the rights of citizens. I am just using the most current example. Maybe you heard this somewhere. There are biases on everyone, but science and religion aren’t against each other. It is person against person.

In Trump’s first term he improved relations between the Middle East. He made deals with all the countries surrounding Iran. Isn’t the tariffs just an extension of the prisoner’s dilemma? Apply tariffs while the U.S. economy is strong and tarrif every country. Those countries could work to together and retaliate, but with every country that makes a deal the U.S.gets more bargaining power. Still think Trump is dumb? Every time a country makes a deal the stock markets will do better. However I am disappointed that DOGE is dismantling government programs because this money could have went to fund them. I don’t know if the tariffs will work. But the money would probably go into the military instead of academics and healthcare. But as it relates to conserving resources. We probably only need an eighth of the stuff we buy. What if Trump is right; a Barbie cost $60 so you have 2 instead of 20. But you just balanced the market for all toy makers. Of all countries.

Well in response to capitalism do you guys agree it is the best system? It doesn’t mean it’s fair. Some people will always have advantages. But at least the average guy has a chance. I know this comes from fiction but some writer but it in the Star Trek books to reflect the same problems of capitalism. That is that Captain Kirk could not understand how poverty was eliminated in captain Picard’s time. Kirk couldn’t understand how the resources to build the enterprise with no payments existed. How would you motivate and control a country without capitalism? And still have freedom? But I don’t think Elon and Trump are now motivated by money. I don’t know what Trumps goal is. Why is he changing a working economy? It’s not to conserve resources. I think Elon like Trump actually think they are saving America. Have a drop in population go father 14 kids. I know CharonY didn’t think that Trump wasn’t smart enough to ruin other countries economies by weaponizing trade. I believe Warren Buffet commented on this a few days ago. But both Elon and Trump are extremely smart. I know Trump looks like an idiot on the news. He is a genius. He has been manipulating people and money to get what he wants his entire life. The problem is he can now manipulate the world’s economy.

Back to the minimalist; Trump said kid will have 2 dolls instead of 30. It is my hypothesis that conservation is not his goal but the goal is to weaken other countries economies. Could China support itself by trading every where but the U.S.? America is not made stronger by making more products than other countries. The only reason I can think of for major changes in the economy would be if it were going to fail. I mean if mass consumption of products was going to fail.

Why are we studying it if we can’t fix it? Why would we ask the President questions if we are just going to say things are wrong but oh well science can’t fix politics? Is a scientist supposed to discover a drug then drug companies price it too high. So the scientist says not my fault, scientists make drugs not sell them. This is bad. I think after Trump’s presidency there will be limits on how federal funding is controlled. The science of economics to repair the country.

Well I think a post by MigL stated that the forum has become too political. We should do science. The problem is the politics is effecting everyone and I don’t think science can fix it. If you could stop s Trump with science it would be an act of treason. Wired magazine released the names of DOGE members and were threatened. Science is for problems not political problems. Cure a disease fixed problem…still infinite problems to solve. The Great Courses has a class on verbal judo. I briefly read a description where it said that in intense situations logical arguments don’t work. So when you are in a meeting with Trump, saying tariffs will complicate a working world economy, will not make him admit that too much change to a working system is a bad idea. Does anyone think that science can fix politics?

What was last Thursday? I can’t keep track of these things. and… Mr. President: When did the Department of Education become a collection agency and not exist to give grants and loans? (Now instead of loan forgiveness the new policy is to enforce loan repayments.)

Dear Mr. President, I see you figured out cutting funding is more powerful than legislative and laws. Why did the tariff formulas derived by a 7th grader? How do tariffs make tax revenue while the U.S. citizens pay the tariff? Why can’t any who is in the United States lead peaceful protests? You hold the power of one of the most powerful economies, why did you manipulate it to increase your own power?

Thanks CharonY for the above and beyond explanation 👍

So you are saying pain does not result from the body fighting viruses or its own immune system? In school the Ms society told us ms was painless. But I have been told by a person that had ms there is random pain. They said it feels like you are being electrocuted. I don’t know the credibility of “a person who gets shingles does not get ms.” You say it increases the chances. But I post this here because that is what interests me about shingles and other neurological diseases. But maybe instead of calling shingles a cure to ms, maybe those that have recovered from shingles means they can recover from the virus that causes ms. Again I haven’t been able to find such a study. The person who told me probably was told by a specialist in neurology. But a misunderstanding is possible.

I hypothesize that since shingles attacks the nerves the sores and pain is the nerves defense reaction. People with multiple sclerosis have described themselves as “being electrically shocked.” I don’t know if the “shocked pain” happens in other nerve illnesses, but as this study shows there is a relationship between 2 nerve disorders in that a shingles shot prevents both shingles and dementia. But the claim I’ve only heard about is that people who get shingles don’t get ms.