Scientific-sounding gobbledygook found by trolling PF posts

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SUMMARY

This discussion highlights the practice of sourcing scientific terminology and concepts from the "Beyond the Standard Model" forum on Physics Forums (PF) to enhance the authenticity of hard sci-fi writing. Participants share their experiences in constructing convincing dialogue and descriptions by utilizing complex terms such as "event horizon," "Freeman manifold," and "metric tensor." The conversation emphasizes the value of PF as a resource for authors seeking credible scientific content, showcasing how discussions can inspire creative writing while maintaining scientific integrity.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of advanced physics concepts such as event horizons and metric tensors.
  • Familiarity with the terminology used in theoretical physics, including Bailin gauge groups and fractional symmetry breaking.
  • Knowledge of compactification in higher-dimensional spaces, specifically elliptically fibered Calabi-Yau 4-folds.
  • Experience in writing science fiction that incorporates scientific principles.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research "event horizons in general relativity" to deepen understanding of their implications in physics.
  • Explore "Freeman manifolds" and their applications in theoretical physics.
  • Study "Calabi-Yau manifolds" and their role in string theory and compactification.
  • Investigate "gauge theories" and their significance in modern physics.
USEFUL FOR

Writers of hard science fiction, physicists, and anyone interested in integrating authentic scientific concepts into creative narratives will benefit from this discussion.

Melbourne Guy
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Whenever I need a convincing hard sci-fi description, I troll PF - and usually I start with the "Beyond the Standard Model" forum - for concepts that will come across as convincingly nerdy. Here's the latest from my current novel, and I wondered whether anyone else trolls PF for such content?

“The situation here,” the woman said seriously, “is that the event horizon is teleological.” Flannigan had almost stopped listening then, figuring that if there was a term he did not understand in the first sentence, then he was not going to comprehend the rest of it. “Its location depends on its entire future spacetime, with no local counterpart. Within the Freeman manifold, an apparent event horizon is co-located with the unfeigned event horizon, and the metric tensor encodes a deformation of the Minkowski distance formula that varies from point to point in a fractional symmetry breaking fashion. Bailin gauge groups trigger the apparent horizon to discontinuously jump to the unfeigned horizon across the radius topology of compactification in four dimensions on an elliptically fibered CY 4-fold, expanding the isometric torsion...”
 
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I like the humorous way you use the word “troll” as either the verb or the noun.

Maybe the word “trawl” might be more appropriate these days, unless of course you are a troll and I have taken the bait.
 
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I'm the antitheses of a troll, @Baluncore, never fear, there was no bait intended or implied.

And while I meant the verb somewhat tongue in cheek, you're right, trawl is an equally appropriate word. Either way, there is such a cornucopia of science writing in PF that constructing snippets of dialogue or handwavium descriptions for sci-fi stories is terrifically easy! And it comes across as solidly authentic...because it is :biggrin:

It is just another benefit of the forums, albeit one that might not generally immediately evident to authors.