Systems are altered by measurement, that's definitely part of the Copenhagen interpretation of Quantum Mechanics. However, I'm not sure what any of that has to do directly with infinity.

We've had the concept of infinity since we've had the number 0.

This is more or less true, yeah. Another way to think about it is the creation of particle/anti-particle pairs with energy "borrowed" from the vacuum (as per the uncertainty principle) which goes on around us all the time. If this creation happens close to the event horizon, one of the particles can fall into the black hole, whilst the other has sufficient energy to escape. The escaping particle is promoted from a "virtual" to a "real" particle, and the black hole loses some mass in order to remain consistent with the uncertainty principle (the energy borrowed is paid back). Thus, the black-hole has appeared to "radiate" a particle, even though the particle didn't escape from within the event horizon.



I'm writing a sci-fi novel in which i speculate a method of time travel using a black hole (IMG:http://media.profileheaven.com/images/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

In what sense? As far as i was aware, as not even time eacapes a black hole, the time around the event horizon of a black hole moves slower than the rst of the universe, thus... your not really traveling in time, but your moving slowly in time compaired to the rest of the universe, thus, technically going to the future.... one way trip though.

As much as this is going to sound extremely gay, i'd rather not post it on a public forum - you never know who's reading (IMG:http://media.profileheaven.com/images/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

It has nothing to do with the gravitational time dilation created by the black hole though, no.

(IMG:http://media.profileheaven.com/images/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Gayboy. (IMG:http://media.profileheaven.com/images/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

(IMG:http://media.profileheaven.com/images/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

I'm not really claiming it's practically possible either. It's more of a philosophical idea based on some of the mathematics which is connected with space-time inside a black hole. I'm just going to make up names for the necessary "technology" required to actually do it.

The only thing infinite is the mind of J.D. And even then, I doubt even Einstein would figure out how long that extends.

Should PM me a rough idea about what it is, i'm quite interested in what it could be.

I will someone woudl hurry up and invent the Warp Drive (IMG:http://media.profileheaven.com/images/style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

I'm not a scientist, but is it really impossible for us to grasp the existence of something which we can't measure?

I don't see any valid reason why there shouldn't be concepts out there outwith our comprehension, and 'infinity' for me is one of them.

Maybe the universe is round, like earth. So if you did reach the end, you'd just cross over to the start again.

It would be fascinating to know what is "outside" the universe.

What is it that is stopping us exploring the universe more? Before it was a lack of fuel, but now we are entering an age of electric motors, surely it could be as simple as putting re chargeable batteries into spaceships?