[Poll] Which scientific breakthrough will come first?

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    Poll Scientific

Which breakthrough will come first?

  • Unmanned interstellar probe travels to Proxima Centauri 4 light years away and returns images.

    Votes: 3 15.8%

  • Physicists invent a successful theory of quantum gravity which passes stringent experimental tests.

    Votes: 16 84.2%
  • Total voters
    19
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petergreat
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As pointless as it is, let's speculate which of the two breakthroughs will come first!
 
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To achieve the first, we need to accelerate macroscopic objects to relativistic speeds. To achieve the second, we (probably) need to accelerate microscopic particles to ultra-relativistic, Planckian speeds. That's the deal.
 
Tough choice. I like quantum gravity. It appears more likely than sending a probe to proxima centauri before the sun goes red giant.
 
Chronos said:
Tough choice. I like quantum gravity. It appears more likely than sending a probe to proxima centauri before the sun goes red giant.

Wow, someone sure has no faith in humanity :biggrin:
 
I voted wit the majority on the quantum gravity. Theories are far easier to prove then the daunting obstacle of actually doing something.