Ask a Scientist

Yesterday I gave a public talk here at Fermilab as part of the 'Ask a Scientist' series.
The questions afterwards where very interesting and ranged from, down to earth questions about the size of the Universe at the big bang and its connection to string theory to more esoteric subjects like if my calculations include that the Universe could be a living being. I was close to answer: "This might as well be and we are happen to be in the digestive tract." but of course I did not do that. Anyway I thought it might be interesting for some of you people out there in the real world if I post the transparencies I used here:

I also showed 3 movie clips. A couple of them from the COSMUS group and one from Paul Steinhardt. Have fun exploring.

Comments

[aalu paneer]

Some "interesting" questions I have been asked (after having me clarify that i was not a physicist at the lab):

1. what if you accidently create a blackhole?
2. how do you know that particles don't have consciousness or is there a particle for consciousness?
3. when you are searching for new paticles, do you keep option open for unexpected finds ... like metachlorins?

[Fred]

Hey Jochen,

It would be great for us 'non-physicists' if you could post a transcript of the presentation to go along with your transparencies.

Unrelated p.s. Physically speaking, what was probably considered in the operation of extricating the Mars rover, Opportunity, from the small sand dune? How would have the calculations been different had this situation taken place on earth?

Thanks, Fred

[m. visaya]

i was reviewing your cover story on x-33. if antimatter, especially the neutral kind is contained with "very great difficulty", why not design a ship that run on it - delivery and payload as one? that way, the "only very minute quantities" containment problem becomes expedient. (XBL422)

[manuel visaya]

is there sign of intelligent life in the direction of M100 (NGC4321)virgo cluster? (NSKA)