Finally a physics paper with a little originality

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The discussion centers on a physics paper by Benjamin K. Tippett that explores the possibility of localized bubbles of spacetime curvature, inspired by a fictional account from a 1928 manuscript by Francis Wayland Thurston. The paper argues that the bizarre phenomena described by sailor Gustaf Johansen can be interpreted through the lens of spacetime curvature, suggesting that his observations were not mere fantasies but rather reflections of complex physics. Tippett presents numerical computations to support this theory, although he concludes that the matter needed to create such curvature is unphysical and beyond current scientific understanding. The conversation touches on the blend of science and fiction, with some participants questioning the seriousness of the paper's claims. Ultimately, the discussion highlights the intersection of popular physics and imaginative storytelling.
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arXiv:1210.8144 (cross-list from physics.pop-ph) [pdf, ps, other]
Possible Bubbles of Spacetime Curvature in the South Pacific
Benjamin K. Tippett
Comments: 13 pages, 10 figures. Before you charter a boat, please look up the collected works of HP Lovecraft
Subjects: Popular Physics (physics.pop-ph); General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology (gr-qc); History and Philosophy of Physics (physics.hist-ph)
In 1928, the late Francis Wayland Thurston published a scandalous manuscript in purport of warning the world of a global conspiracy of occultists. Among the documents he gathered to support his thesis was the personal account of a sailor by the name of Gustaf Johansen, describing an encounter with an extraordinary island. Johansen`s descriptions of his adventures upon the island are fantastic, and are often considered the most enigmatic (and therefore the highlight) of Thurston`s collection of documents.
We contend that all of the credible phenomena which Johansen described may be explained as being the observable consequences of a localized bubble of spacetime curvature. Many of his most incomprehensible statements (involving the geometry of the architecture, and variability of the location of the horizon) can therefore be said to have a unified underlying cause.
We propose a simplified example of such a geometry, and show using numerical computation that Johansen`s descriptions were, for the most part, not simply the ravings of a lunatic. Rather, they are the nontechnical observations of an intelligent man who did not understand how to describe what he was seeing. Conversely, it seems to us improbable that Johansen should have unwittingly given such a precise description of the consequences of spacetime curvature, if the details of this story were merely the dregs of some half remembered fever dream.
We calculate the type of matter which would be required to generate such exotic spacetime curvature. Unfortunately, we determine that the required matter is quite unphysical, and possesses a nature which is entirely alien to all of the experiences of human science. Indeed, any civilization with mastery over such matter would be able to construct warp drives, cloaking devices, and other exotic geometries

Gravitational lensing and the cult of Cthulhu

See https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=648429
 
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Jim Kata said:
arXiv:1210.8144 (cross-list from physics.pop-ph) [pdf, ps, other]
Possible Bubbles of Spacetime Curvature in the South Pacific
Benjamin K. Tippett
Comments: 13 pages, 10 figures. Before you charter a boat, please look up the collected works of HP Lovecraft
Subjects: Popular Physics (physics.pop-ph); General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology (gr-qc); History and Philosophy of Physics (physics.hist-ph)
In 1928, the late Francis Wayland Thurston published a scandalous manuscript in purport of warning the world of a global conspiracy of occultists. Among the documents he gathered to support his thesis was the personal account of a sailor by the name of Gustaf Johansen, describing an encounter with an extraordinary island. Johansen`s descriptions of his adventures upon the island are fantastic, and are often considered the most enigmatic (and therefore the highlight) of Thurston`s collection of documents.
We contend that all of the credible phenomena which Johansen described may be explained as being the observable consequences of a localized bubble of spacetime curvature. Many of his most incomprehensible statements (involving the geometry of the architecture, and variability of the location of the horizon) can therefore be said to have a unified underlying cause.
We propose a simplified example of such a geometry, and show using numerical computation that Johansen`s descriptions were, for the most part, not simply the ravings of a lunatic. Rather, they are the nontechnical observations of an intelligent man who did not understand how to describe what he was seeing. Conversely, it seems to us improbable that Johansen should have unwittingly given such a precise description of the consequences of spacetime curvature, if the details of this story were merely the dregs of some half remembered fever dream.
We calculate the type of matter which would be required to generate such exotic spacetime curvature. Unfortunately, we determine that the required matter is quite unphysical, and possesses a nature which is entirely alien to all of the experiences of human science. Indeed, any civilization with mastery over such matter would be able to construct warp drives, cloaking devices, and other exotic geometries

Gravitational lensing and the cult of Cthulhu

See https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=648429

Maybe a little too much originality. This is all fictitious.
 
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ImaLooser said:
Maybe a little too much originality. This is all fictitious.
Isn't that the point? This is a Halloween joke based on a Lovecraft story.
 
Every day we learn new things. Sometimes it's just a small fact or realization. No matter how trivial or random, let's start recording our daily lessons. Please start off with "Today I learned". Keep commentary to a minimum and just LIKE posts. I'll start! Today I learned that you clean up a white hat by spraying some cleaner with bleach on it (rinse before putting it back on your head!)
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