- #1
mabauti
- 11
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In his book "The Demon-Haunted World" Carl Sagan talks about this, I wonder what kind of physics phenom is that.
t.i.a.
t.i.a.
What is Stochastic Overflow? | Carl Sagan
- Context: Undergrad
- Thread starter mabauti
- Start date
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- Tags
- Stochastic
Click For Summary
Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around the concept of "stochastic overflow" as mentioned by Carl Sagan in his book "The Demon-Haunted World." Participants explore its implications in physics, particularly in relation to phenomena that might allow for extraordinary events, such as a car passing through a wall.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory, Conceptual clarification
Main Points Raised
- One participant references Sagan's discussion of stochastic overflow in relation to a hypothetical scenario where a car could travel through a wall.
- Another participant seeks clarification on the context in which the term "stochastic overflow" was used in Sagan's work.
- A participant cites that the average waiting time for such a stochastic event is much longer than the age of the Universe, suggesting that while improbable, it is theoretically possible.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants do not reach a consensus on the implications or interpretations of stochastic overflow, and the discussion remains exploratory with varying levels of understanding and context provided.
Contextual Notes
The discussion highlights the speculative nature of the concept, with references to the age of the Universe and the improbability of the events described, but does not resolve the underlying assumptions or definitions of stochastic overflow.