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Einstein's e=mc2 theory was right! 103 years later

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PARIS (AFP) – It's taken more than a century, but Einstein's celebrated formula e=mc2 has finally been corroborated, thanks to a heroic computational effort by French, German and Hungarian physicists.

A brainpower consortium led by Laurent Lellouch of France's Centre for Theoretical Physics, using some of the world's mightiest supercomputers, have set down the calculations for estimating the mass of protons and neutrons, the particles at the nucleus of atoms.

According to the conventional model of particle physics, protons and neutrons comprise smaller particles known as quarks, which in turn are bound by gluons.

The odd thing is this: the mass of gluons is zero and the mass of quarks is only five percent. Where, therefore, is the missing 95 percent?

The answer, according to the study published in the US journal Science on Thursday, comes from the energy from the movements and interactions of quarks and gluons.

In other words, energy and mass are equivalent, as Einstein proposed in his Special Theory of Relativity in 1905.

The e=mc2 formula shows that mass can be converted into energy, and energy can be converted into mass.

By showing how much energy would be released if a certain amount of mass were to be converted into energy, the equation has been used many times, most famously as the inspirational basis for building atomic weapons.

But resolving e=mc2 at the scale of sub-atomic particles -- in equations called quantum chromodynamics -- has been fiendishly difficult.

"Until now, this has been a hypothesis," France's National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) said proudly in a press release.

"It has now been corroborated for the first time."

For those keen to know more: the computations involve "envisioning space and time as part of a four-dimensional crystal lattice, with discrete points spaced along columns and rows."
  • added November 21, 2008
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45 responses // Einstein's e=mc2 theory was right! 103 years later

  •  

    To be fair, Albert did need to do some tweaking.

    http://discovermagazine.com/2008/sep/01-einstein.s-23-biggest-mistakes

    1. 1905 Mistake in clock synchronization procedure on which Einstein based special relativity
    2. 1905 Failure to consider Michelson-Morley experiment
    3. 1905 Mistake in transverse mass of high-speed particles
    4. 1905 Multiple mistakes in the mathematics and physics used in calculation of viscosity of liquids, from which Einstein deduced size of molecules
    5. 1905 Mistakes in the relationship between thermal radiation and quanta of light
    6. 1905 Mistake in the first proof of E = mc2
    7. 1906 Mistakes in the second, third, and fourth proofs of E = mc2
    8. 1907 Mistake in the synchronization procedure for accelerated clocks
    9. 1907 Mistakes in the Principle of Equivalence of gravitation and acceleration
    10. 1911 Mistake in the first calculation of the bending of light
    11. 1913 Mistake in the first attempt at a theory of general relativity
    12. 1914 Mistake in the fifth proof of E = mc2
    13. 1915 Mistake in the Einstein-de Haas experiment
    14. 1915 Mistakes in several attempts at theories of general relativity
    15. 1916 Mistake in the interpretation of Mach’s principle
    16. 1917 Mistake in the introduction of the cosmological constant (the “biggest blunder”)
    17. 1919 Mistakes in two attempts to modify general relativity
    18. 1925 Mistakes and more mistakes in the attempts to formulate a unified theory
    19. 1927 Mistakes in discussions with Bohr on quantum uncertainties
    20. 1933 Mistakes in interpretation of quantum mechanics (Does God play dice?)
    21. 1934 Mistake in the sixth proof of E = mc2
    22. 1939 Mistake in the interpretation of the Schwarzschild singularity and gravitational collapse (the “black hole”)
    23. 1946 Mistake in the seventh proof of E = mc2

    AveryMoore
    5 responses to this
  •  

    Amazing. Finally something to allow his legacy to continue on. His works have still been very important.

    usman6
  •  

    I thought htis theory had already been proven?

    Or as proven as any theory can be.

    MiguelSanchez
    1 response to this
  •  

    pwned

    telekinesis
  •  

    I love mass and energy!

    Swiyyah
  •  

    You've got be pretty smart to prove Einstein right. Fair play.

    mattbrawn
  •  

    I think as time moves on, this too will be disputed in part. What happens on a sub-atomic scale still has to be seen on the largest scale, such as what happens inside black holes. Along those same lines, gravity is still a theory because of the diffeences in the beahvior of particles on the grand and sub-atomic scale.

    The new particle accellerator in Europe may dispute these findings soon.

    ninepounds6
    1 response to this
  •  

    Thanks for the Hungarians too.

    Glory77777
  •  

    I knew it all along! I have some other amazing physics theories too, but am waiting until the world is ready for them.

    recommended by current89
    bamboodizzard
  •  

    all i have to say is that it took 3 physicists to prove what one man came up with. ain't he smart :D

    CalgarC
  •  
    http://current.com/items/88816500/einstein_time.htm
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    Love these little animations explaining it all!

    http://current.com/items/88817536/einstein_energy.htm

    http://current.com/items/88827007/einstein_light.htm

    ksimpson
    1 response to this
  •  

    Einstein rocks smart, goofy, and cool all rolled up into one. I'm glad you could prove you point.

    justright
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    For those keen to know more: the computations involve "envisioning space and time as part of a four-dimensional crystal lattice, with discrete points spaced along columns and rows."

    Sound's like Synaesthesis and Ezekial 20:20 vision to me!

    sukicat
  •  

    I had F = MC Escher. I was so close! Damn you, Einstein!

    VSiskos
  •  

    Wasn't this already proven?

    Nealeigh
  •  

    'The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is at all comprehensible.'
    Albert Einstein

    JanforGore
  •  

    When a mind and God's mind are one you have Genius!

    Einstien had God's mind on speed dial...

    Unlock your Full Potential: Free your mind of fears,Let go of limiting beliefs and Grow- Evolve, Create Greatness and share it with the world...

    hapykap
  •  

    I believe that the contribution of Einstein in 20th century physics is largely overrated. Himself, being a good and honest man, in his writings gives credit to various other Physicists and Scientists. Anyone interested to examine this issue deeper will stumble across the name of K. Karatheodori and Max Plank for example.

    de_elia_artista
  •  

    WHAT THE F#@%!!!! IT TOOK THEM THIS LONG TO PROVE THIS THEORY???? WASN'T IT ALREADY PROVEN????

    crissisean06
  •  

    instead of proving older theories to be correct, shouldn't we be taking a hint from Einstein and imagining and creating new ideas about our cosmos? i am glad that they have "proved" his theory, but it seems all too easy in science to fit things into boxes that are already there. in science, especially at the sub-atomic level, you usually get what you look for.... eventually or instantaneously...

    phillyphil
  •  

    Swiyyah writes,

    "I love mass and energy!"

    Obviously a younger person's attitude...

    As a senior, I can state categorically that additional mass does not necessarily imply additional energy..

    AveryMoore
    2 responses to this
  •  

    That's what's hot!!! I can't wait till it's a Law. Fractional Dimensions too ...
    I think we'll be able to evolve a lot further once we (the human race) acknowledge and make use of both theories (E=mc^2 and fractional dimensions).

    retrochica51213
  •  

    It's funny how people accept things even though they haven't been proven. Sounds like a religion.

    Valentin0o
    3 responses to this
  •  

    I wonder what other possibilities will be possible in the next 103 years all because of this break through. Cheers to science!

    ferrjuan
  •  

    nice VSiskos!

    I was thinking dope = MC Shan myself
    Also, perhaps broke = MC Hammer

    ThatBastardBeej
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