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romansh · 05-04-2008, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Og

Determinism is out the window. It's demonstrably false. See quantum mechanics.

probably
The thing I like about physicists: there are always dissenting voices:

Quote:

New Scientist: A series of recent papers show that the idea of a deterministic and objective universe is alive and kicking. At the very least, the notion that quantum theory put the nail in the coffin of determinism has been wildly overstated, says physicist Sheldon Goldstein of Rutgers University in New Jersey. He and a cadre of like-minded physicists have been pursuing an alternative quantum theory known as Bohmian mechanics, in which particles follow precise trajectories or paths through space and time, and the future is perfectly predictable from the past. "It's a reformulation of quantum theory that is not at all congenial to supposedly deep quantum philosophy," says Goldstein. "It's precise and objective - and deterministic."
If these researchers can convince their peers, most of whom remain sceptical, it would be a big step towards rebuilding the universe as Einstein wanted, one in which "God does not play dice". It could also trigger a search for evidence of physics beyond quantum theory, paving the way for a better and more intuitive theory of how the universe works. Nearly a century after the discovery of quantum weirdness, it seems determinism may be back.

Some physicists are crying foul ... in that the new theories match predictions from quantum theory so closely it will be be difficult to make predictions that distinguish between the two. Now this is cool! What science is all about ... continual testing.

ps congratulations on the 2000