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Notes from Westercon 56 and Science

Notes from Dr. Michio Kaku's Talk

Westercon 56 Science Guest of Honor
Professor of Theoretical Physics
Author of M-Theory

Dr. Kaku talks about physics and the nature of the universe with an unusual clarity. He manages to take complex physics concepts and make them clear to non-scientists. Here are a few of his concepts from the Guest of Honor talk.

Each time we master a force, science turns the world upside down.

  1. Gravity: Newton's equation: F=G(M1*M2)/(R1-R2)**2; defined the force of gravity. This led to mechanics, the steam engine and the industrial revolution.
  2. Faraday's discovery of electromagnetics led to electricity, magnetism, electronics, radio, television and the Internet.
  3. Einstein's discovery of the nuclear equation: E=MC**2; led to atomic power, nuclear medicine, and the atomic bomb.
  4. What will happen when we understand the TOE, the Theory of Everything? Dr. Kaku says we are close to this with M-Theory, but it is not yet a one inch long equation.

Dr. Kaku talks about the nature of how the laws interact. M-Theory is about superstings, very tiny strings of force that vibrate, creating the particles we detect in physics experiments. He puts this in a music analogy. "Physics laws are the laws of harmonies, chemistry is the melody, and the Universe is a symphony."

Dr. Kaku lists the levels of civilization by the nature of the forces it controls. He says "Civilizations can be categorized by their ability to generate and control energy on a specific scale."

  1. Type I: Planetary - control of earthquakes, volcanos, etc. for energy generation.
  2. Type II: Stellar - control of star level of energy - nuclear fusion.
  3. Type III: Galactic - Control of galactic levels of energy - black holes, supernovas.
  4. Type IV: Intergalactic - Time and space travel on a universe scale.

We (earth) are a type zero nearing type I capability. Dr. Kaku rates us at Type 0.7 on this scale. This is because we are in the process of becoming a planetary operation. He likens the Internet to a global phone system, economics is rapidly shifting to a global economy as tarrifs and barriers come down.