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The Fine Structure Constant is Probably Constant
Follow-up on an article from a few weeks back which claimed that the
Fine Structure Constant was varying. This study casts doubt on it. Yousuf Khan *** The Fine Structure Constant is Probably Constant | Cosmic Variance | Discover Magazine "A few weeks ago there was a bit of media excitement about a somewhat surprising experimental result. Observations of quasar spectra indicated that the fine structure constant, the parameter in physics that describes the strength of electromagnetism, seems to be slightly different on one side of the universe than on the other. The preprint is here. Remarkable, if true. The fine structure constant, usually denoted α, is one of the most basic parameters in all of physics, and it’s a big deal if it’s not really constant. But how likely is it to be true? This is the right place to trot out the old “extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence” chestnut. It’s certainly an extraordinary claim, but the evidence doesn’t really live up to that standard. Maybe further observations will reveal truly extraordinary evidence, but there’s no reason to get excited quite yet." http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/co...ably-constant/ |
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