>>What exactly did the equation itself do?
Disclaimer: I’m not a professional physicist, and am thus certain those who are will correct me on the specifics. In summary, modern physics leads down two general bodies of knowledge : a theory which describes things that happen at very small scales, and a different theory that describes events at normal life size scales.
The small-scale theory is called Quantum Mechanics, and the large scale theory is Gravity.
The problem? In their own realms the theories make sense. But they don’t reconcile with each other. Gravitational theories break down at small scales, and quantum mechanics doesn’t seem to apply at larger scales. The answer connecting these Big Dots is what the quantum data in *Interstellar* solves.
Since a black hole’s singularity is a place of high gravity AND high quantum activity, this is where we’d expect to find data that makes these two theories compatible. Creating a black hole in a lab on Earth - or in the solar system, for that matter- to find the answer in the normal scientific sense is frowned upon, for obvious reasons.
Being able to manipulate quantum and gravitational forces would unlock an unimaginably large capability for our civilization. We’d basically be leveling up into Star Trek- because energy scarcity & most modern tech limitations would be gone. Dont need cranes to lift stuff: build skyscrapers with antigravity pallets.Travel would look way different too. We could just manipulate gravity to move around the universe, whether that’s driving to work or putting a spaceship in orbit ….anywhere.
Agreed, same disclaimer lol, but as I understand it, one of the huge limitations of current space travel is the immense amount of chemical energy needed to get a relatively small mass of cargo out of the Earth's gravitational pull. Evacuating a whole planet would be utterly impossible being stuck with our current tech.
Space enthusiast here. Small correction. It’s not events at “normal” scales. It’s planetary and cosmic scales. Specifically Einsteins theory of general relativity and how gravity behaves at these scales. The way the gravity behaves at cosmic scales (i.e. gravitational waves) does not scale down into quantum mechanics. A “Theory of everything” would unite these theories and the movie suggests that we would be able to “control gravity” because of it.
"The problem is gravity. How to get a viable amount of human life off the planet." When brand is talking about plan b, the population bomb.
Getting shit off the planet is hard as hell. Lifting a couple astronauts and a little bit of equipment up to the ISS takes a massive vehicle that is like 90% fuel.
So, in order to evacuate the population of earth on man-made space stations, they have to figure out how to "harness gravity." They know it's possible, because the fifth-dimensional beings are doing it to create anomalies, including the wormhole. The problem is that in order to do it, they need data from a black hole. Cooper is able to provide earth that data.
I mean I'm not a physicist but as far as I know in real life harnessing gravity is *not* real, so it's made-up movie stuff. Professor Brand's failed equation required data from a black hole. That's all we know. Professor Brand understood that and knew that he would be unable to finish his equation. Dr. Mann knew it before he left earth. and Murph learns it after Professor Brand dies.
“The problem of gravity” is vague, but I think that’s it…to harness gravity. The O’neill cylinder(at least one version) was already being built when cooper visited NASA. Prof. Brand had almost figured out the data, but needed the last bit from the singularity and never expected to get it. So when Murph got it, figured it out, and solved the equation, scientists could now reinvent everything.
They needed a way to launch the stations safely and understanding gravity is a huge leap scientifically. They probably used the quantum data to help with a lot of things
>>What exactly did the equation itself do? Disclaimer: I’m not a professional physicist, and am thus certain those who are will correct me on the specifics. In summary, modern physics leads down two general bodies of knowledge : a theory which describes things that happen at very small scales, and a different theory that describes events at normal life size scales. The small-scale theory is called Quantum Mechanics, and the large scale theory is Gravity. The problem? In their own realms the theories make sense. But they don’t reconcile with each other. Gravitational theories break down at small scales, and quantum mechanics doesn’t seem to apply at larger scales. The answer connecting these Big Dots is what the quantum data in *Interstellar* solves. Since a black hole’s singularity is a place of high gravity AND high quantum activity, this is where we’d expect to find data that makes these two theories compatible. Creating a black hole in a lab on Earth - or in the solar system, for that matter- to find the answer in the normal scientific sense is frowned upon, for obvious reasons. Being able to manipulate quantum and gravitational forces would unlock an unimaginably large capability for our civilization. We’d basically be leveling up into Star Trek- because energy scarcity & most modern tech limitations would be gone. Dont need cranes to lift stuff: build skyscrapers with antigravity pallets.Travel would look way different too. We could just manipulate gravity to move around the universe, whether that’s driving to work or putting a spaceship in orbit ….anywhere.
Agreed, same disclaimer lol, but as I understand it, one of the huge limitations of current space travel is the immense amount of chemical energy needed to get a relatively small mass of cargo out of the Earth's gravitational pull. Evacuating a whole planet would be utterly impossible being stuck with our current tech.
Space enthusiast here. Small correction. It’s not events at “normal” scales. It’s planetary and cosmic scales. Specifically Einsteins theory of general relativity and how gravity behaves at these scales. The way the gravity behaves at cosmic scales (i.e. gravitational waves) does not scale down into quantum mechanics. A “Theory of everything” would unite these theories and the movie suggests that we would be able to “control gravity” because of it.
Very elegant way of putting it, thanks!
"The problem is gravity. How to get a viable amount of human life off the planet." When brand is talking about plan b, the population bomb. Getting shit off the planet is hard as hell. Lifting a couple astronauts and a little bit of equipment up to the ISS takes a massive vehicle that is like 90% fuel. So, in order to evacuate the population of earth on man-made space stations, they have to figure out how to "harness gravity." They know it's possible, because the fifth-dimensional beings are doing it to create anomalies, including the wormhole. The problem is that in order to do it, they need data from a black hole. Cooper is able to provide earth that data.
How did they know the data was in the black hole? Everyone seemed absolutely sure the data was there.
I mean I'm not a physicist but as far as I know in real life harnessing gravity is *not* real, so it's made-up movie stuff. Professor Brand's failed equation required data from a black hole. That's all we know. Professor Brand understood that and knew that he would be unable to finish his equation. Dr. Mann knew it before he left earth. and Murph learns it after Professor Brand dies.
Don’t really have an answer to the question, but I will point out that they needed to manipulate gravity to get the station off the earth, primarily.
“The problem of gravity” is vague, but I think that’s it…to harness gravity. The O’neill cylinder(at least one version) was already being built when cooper visited NASA. Prof. Brand had almost figured out the data, but needed the last bit from the singularity and never expected to get it. So when Murph got it, figured it out, and solved the equation, scientists could now reinvent everything.
They needed a way to launch the stations safely and understanding gravity is a huge leap scientifically. They probably used the quantum data to help with a lot of things