1/137 - Physics' Greatest Mystery

[@douglasstrother6584]

Arnold Sommerfeld's contributions to Physics and Mathematics are under-appreciated. His work is one of the strong bridges between Classical and Quatum Physics.

[@panmichael5271]

I totally agree. He had modesty and talent. Physics moves forward with guys like Sommerfeld in contrast to the egos prevalent in physics today.

[@bhgtree]

When I seen 1/137 in the title, I thought this was Simon's 1st of 137 physics videos and was thinking that by the end of the week he'd have the rest uploaded. 😂🤣 Thanks Simon and guys.

[@manifold1476]

"seen"? Where's the preceding "had" ?

[@georgegonzalez2476]

Arthur Eddington, in his time, this number was thought to be close to 136. Arthur was never hesitant to come up with fantastic guesses. He already had baldly surmised that there were 2^256 particles in the Universe. With scant evidence and a lot of babbling. So he came up with a cockamamie explanation for why 136 had to be this magic number. Embarrassingly in a few years better measurements showed it was more like 137. Not to stop Eddington, he quickly modified his explanation to fit the data. The humor magazine "Punch" started calling him "Arthur Adding-One". Nice.

[@john-ic5pz]

So, the dark matter & energy folks took a lesson from Eddington's playbook 😢

[@markharwood7573]

@@john-ic5pz Harsh, but needed saying. 🙂

[@rashidisw]

137 looks more beautiful if you view it from base-6 number instead of our usual decimal number.

[@kellycasperhanson4426]

Just shows ya, science can be funny!

[@johnlshilling1446]

​@@kellycasperhanson4426Funny that you noticed... 😂😂

[@Ray_of_Light62]

Didn't mention it in the video, but the fine structure constant is used graphically in the golden disk onboard the Voyager spacecrafts as a unit of measure for any extraterrestrial intelligence to simply grasp the meaning of the messages on the disk. One of the messages is the position of the Earth in the Milky Way. We sent the invitations, we are now waiting for the guests to come to the party...

[@damiion666]

Lol you’ll be waiting a long time. No such thing as little green men 😂

[@mikeguilmette776]

@@damiion666 Or if there are, the closest ones could be in a galaxy millions of light years away . . .

[@mikeguilmette776]

Not quite. The Golden Record uses the spin/flip transition of a hydrogen atom for timing, which relates to hyperfine structure - which itself is different than fine structure.

[@franklinkz2451]

Negative! They used the spin of hydrogen atoms

[@richardrose2606]

If it's a diner party, hopefully we're not the meal.

[@domp2423]

Alot of comments praising Simon and rightfully so. I would also like the thank the writers for these channels. Being able to simplify complex topics is very appreciated.

[@nightwishlover8913]

It's nothing to do with Simon - he just reads it. The writers are the ones you need to praise...

[@ThatWriterKevin]

Appreciate it! On other channels I don't think we really need to simplify things since the topics aren't as complex, but it can definitely be a challenge on here sometimes

[@chiphausl]

Simon is a big brain. He employs the best writers on the interwebs.

[@danjones4432]

@@nightwishlover8913simons charisma and hosting style is what makes these channels though. Yes it’s true he doesn’t write the scripts his delivery of them is essential

[@DABmonger]

Although I'd put a 1/137 chance that this episode didn't take much of its content from the PBS Space Time episode on the same topic.

[@terryenby2304]

I really am still loving the fun editing on these! Physics might not seem “sexy” to some people. But the fine editing and animation and layman’s language really helps improve science communication 🎉 Keep it up! SciShow crossover When??

[@willowmoon7]

Totally agree, except that he lost me at variable constants 😭😭😭

[@carl5192]

@@willowmoon7 Its pretty simple really. A variable can change where as a constant cannot.

[@willowmoon7]

@@carl5192 then explain how a constant is also a variable

[@carl5192]

@@willowmoon7 Depends on how its measure for example speed of light is 200,000km per second. But what is it was measured in miles instead?

[@willowmoon7]

@@carl5192 clear as mud, thank you

[@whitercoin2741]

how am i supposed to keep up with your video's when you release so many at a time!! keep them coming!!

[@terryenby2304]

I barely keep up, and I tend to spend at least an hour puking a day during which I watch whistle boi to keep me company! 😂

[@robot336]

What's going on ?

[@Genghis-Jon]

Eventually, you'll catch up and feel like he's not making enough!

[@robot336]

That question = quantum physic's 🤤🍻🍻

[@techman2553]

On average, they're released once every 137 hours. You should be able to keep up with that.

[@first_m3m3]

As an Engineer and hobbyist sci-fi writer now if I ever want to do a multiverse our universe will be the 137th universe!!

[@EightiesJames]

That's EXACTLY what a double from Universe 89 would say. 🧐

[@v2ike6udik]

_"In the context of the animated series Rick and Morty, Dimension C-137 is a specific alternate universe where the fine structure constant has a different value."_ btw, lets make a deal, I show you the secrets, you help me out of the shthole. They lie about everything, so if you write it as scifi the maybe let you live. They show the truth in plain sight anyways, mocking the lamb. It is not allow to say "emperor is naked" as the spell in the head of the lamb gets demolished. Real deal. The problem is, once you wake up, you cant go to sleep.

[@cajltd1737]

Is it just me or is this channel just getting better and better?

[@bsjeffrey]

still pretty sure it's 42

[@fortytwo139]

I agree

[@lilrex2015]

It is. Simon is too smooth brain to understand its complexity.

[@myrlyn1250]

They did use a computer that was the size of a planet to get that answer, so it must be true. If they hadn't included humans on the planet, the answer might make more sense...

[@afonsolopes9677]

No, it's 2w2

[@noamfinnegan8663]

19+23 =42

[@thedarkknight-3894]

How the hell can these dudes make videos about the world tearing itself apart and also about the fine structure constant. Absolutely love it

[@QBCPerdition]

The universe is "fine-tuned" to us because we are fine-tuned to the universe. If these constants were different, we wouldn't be here wondering why they are the way they are. If we assume there is a multiverse out there, then this conundrum just goes away. We exist in the universe (or universes) where we can exist, and we don't where we can't.

[@harrkev]

If you assume a creator, then this conundrum goes away. If you expect me to believe in multiple universes, then please provide evidence of at least one more. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.

[@QBCPerdition]

@harrkev The exact same can be said of a creator. The answer to the conundrum, without invoking anything that has no proof is that the universe exists, and we exist because we are able to. As I said earlier, we are fine-tuned to the universe, not the other way around. There is no evidence of a creator, and invoking one requires a lot more leaps of fancy than the idea that there is another of something we know exists. If I find one thing, it's not terribly difficult to believe there is another of them somewhere. But to assume something we have never found a shred of evidence for exists is quite the leap.

[@v2ike6udik]

there is nothing magical in fine structure constant. i have the secret structure, they hide. they hide many things. most things are in plain sight, others not so much and are "normaliazed" away etc etc. Values mean nothing. It´s modulation. And as far i remember, there is nothing magical in that modulation. But it is nice. Computer code. Represented as structure. The way code runs in the matrix. One may peek into Adinkra Symbols by James Gates. I think it lines up. Anyways. Creator or not. Current realm is definetly under the rulerschip of 4rch0ns. It is hard to see, if "god" helps, or are those 4rch0ns. They dont want you dööd (unless it is planned to someones lifepath), as the extract energy from you. But all they do is fkn pull the rug at the last moment. They are ruthless bstrds. They get mad an vindictive, when someone knows about their game. These ruthless bastards have minions among us. Sometimes they show who they are. They mock; "you will never will." Hmm... maybe we can. They always try to break the soul. They are somewhat desperate and they never sleep. That´s whay they are "winning" for thousands of years. They need us. But they need us blind and divided by each other. Hey autists, stop mastrabting about physics, please understand the real nature of this world.

[@alxndr2000]

I love how simon can appear to know what he's on about. this simon seems so much smarter than the brain blaze simon

[@ZER0--]

He's not a simple Simon.

[@martincunliffe8555]

I believe that's because on BB he's reading it for the first time AND he's blazed (THC).

[@astralshore]

Emphasis on 'seems' ;-)

[@scottcampbell7944]

Simon carried this out so convincingly that one could believe that he is really familiar with the material he is presenting. Well done!

[@theflyingdutchguy9870]

he just turns off his personality on most channels😅

[@rayoflight62]

Hello Simon, I may be biased, but this video on the fine structure constant may well be the best video you made. You made everyone aware of a problem that every scientist ask themselves multiple times in a day. That 1/137 number begs a question in every physicist's mind: "What we haven't understand about the Universe?" And the answers - ranging from the existence of a Creator to the possibility of a Multiverse, an extended number of answers and no criteria for selecting the right one, for what appears to be an endless quest. You end the video by saying "Not to worry too much" - but believe me, it is an appeal going unheard. Mankind got out of the caves by asking apparently useless questions... Greetings Anthony

[@v2ike6udik]

they lie abour the FSC, It is not a constant. the lie about so many things. about most simple thing withou an eyeblink. it is their cult trade. fr33mösösn

[@dannyroberts5812]

"5.4 million furlongs per regulation hockey game" was a lovely nod to the hitchhiker's guide... We were all happy when we heard 42.. had to add some Adams humor too...🎩🛸

[@DuncanJohnMowbray-pz4sg]

Thanks Simon, I just showed this video to my class of Quantum Mechanics II which was being introduced to the fine constant. Helped make my late Friday afternoon class much more interesting!

[@BruceBoyde]

If anyone wants to learn more about this, PBS Spacetime did an excellent video on this a little while back.

[@chiphausl]

Anton Petrov also did a good video on this

[@jordanr.4150]

love that show! really digs deep into the technical side of topics, which is a nice compliment to vids like these

[@AlexGoodall]

Yes - I watched that video first. It's a bit disconcerting / disappointing that Simon's video seems to be little more than a shorter version of it, making almost exactly the same points in almost exactly the same order.

[@BruceBoyde]

@@AlexGoodall I imagine it's just a matter of writers finding a topic and the facts being the facts. If you read up on the Fine-structure constant from any source, you'd get the same "meat". That said, it is a shame that this is basically just an inferior video, though perhaps more digestible. Space Time can get a little technical.

[@jakkeni7212]

Simon by far is one the most universal youtuber I have seen on the platform, as much as I love your content, I do hope you take time for yourself

[@ucheopara6309]

I like this dude - history, science, politics are all in his exposés. Also, quite interesting to know the animated encyclopedia is 42 years old. Nice!

[@shaungarewal8987]

Love it. Thank you Team Simon!

[@pharmdiddy5120]

Excellent video!! Love the balance between plain language and enough tech talk to give a decent understanding 👍👍

[@ThatWriterKevin]

Thanks!

[@SergiuD.]

love the photo at the end

[@endeemccauley]

Simon I keep randomly finding new channels of yours haha. You are by far the most prolific legitimate KZbinr ever.

[@pan_salceson]

Oh man, this video tickled my curiosity in this special, perfect way.

[@sekaramochi]

Please please please never stop ♥️

[@ThomasDowning-ud6fz]

What s great literay reference when you said "No it's (the number ) not 42!!! I love it. Truly one of the great host on You tube!!! Your writers are amazing!!!! Always quality stuff!!! Thanks for your commitment to making good content !!! As always well done!!!

[@michaelblankenau6598]

Simon . You definitely fit in with that group at the end .

[@KAGdesignsDOTnet]

I perfectly understood that 137 is a number

[@alexspalding6377]

Another channel man I swear this dude could have a video on how physics allows him to have more channels than actual videos .

[@atticuswalker]

incase you are interested. the fine structural constant is the distance between turns in the wavelength of mass. multiply it by 2 and you get the .14 from pi. which represents the distance in time mass moves as a circle from one moment to the next.

[@alexsmith9617]

I love this kind of stuff! I smiled all the way through it. Bravo!

[@syrusterrigan9366]

Yup. It's just another "one of those things" . . . . One of those things *so* specific and *so* essential that life as we know it wouldn't exist if its value were much different. Cosmological constant, carbon formation and resonance, fine structure constant, . . . . How many convenient variables must have "just-so" values to allow for life before they logically beg the question: Who did the put-up job here? Wonderful content, as ever!!

[@stevefrei2588]

The mystery is based on it's relationship to Phi. The difference is Phi is the constant most often found at the macro scale of size, while alpha is quantum scale. That is to say, the square of Phi times two times the square root of five is equal to the square root of 137.

[@captainoates7236]

It the value of the fsc could be derived by such a simple equation it would have been noticed long ago. Any similarity between the two numbers is purely coincidental although to be fair it is quite a good approximation but not exact.

[@JoshuaAlbertGuitar]

Biggest mystery is how many channels Simon has.

[@rquinn0111]

My big brain just shrunk and expanded at the same time 😮

[@chiphausl]

Thank you Kevin

[@ThatWriterKevin]

You're wecome!

[@Hykje]

When Wolfgang Pauli finally got the chance to ask the Devil about the meaning of the number he got the answer -"There is no meaning -it's just there to drive you insane".

[@v2ike6udik]

it is a simple structure, they lie. they lie about everything. if you do not belive me, take smth "unsolvable". Like Collatz conjecture. If you belive it is unsovlable, you will never solve it. If you think it is 7th grade math problem, you will solve it almost instantly. All these "problems" are pyüöps. (no. they dont give you a million dollars for it, they just dont accept you solution and there is noone to complain to)

[@michaelmanning9028]

I HIGHLY reccomend "What the Bleep!? Down the Rabbit Hole." Its basically a WAY oversimplified crash course into string theory and quantem physics.

[@LiveFreeOrDie2A]

“It’s just one of many random values that was selected at the beginning of the universe, and the fact that every one of those random values happens to be exactly perfect for the creation of life is probably just a coincidence that we shouldn’t worry too much about..” -the moment Simon’s tongue pierced his own cheek, becoming the Whistler

[@anarchords1905]

I'm only jumping on you here because I reckon you think you've just found an intelligent point that makes sense. I'm picking on you rather that the writer, because I think the writer was just writing colloqually, with humour in mind. I could be wrong, it doesn't matter. If you took this sentence seriously, the following is to you: Firstly, you can't assess something as a 'random value' without first establishing that it could be another value. Then, "Coincidence" isn't really a way we can describe a singular event within a group of only 1. Then the use of the word "selected", thereby unjustifiably presupposing a 'selecter'. Begging the question. Then "exactly perfect" is yet another assertion you need to define, as well as justify. What are the tolerances either side of this number, how are they affected by any other universal constants, etc? Then, "...for the creation of life", is badly put, too. Life being an emergent property of certain physical laws is VERY different to the physical laws being FOR the creation of this property. This 'fine-tuning' argument is just a lazy, far less thought through offshoot of William Paley's teleological argument. One of the least compelling arguments, in my mind, for a specific god at least. This isn't the channel you want if it's a dive into religious apologetics you're after. Mind you, the fact you actually quoted that sentence there, without noticing ANY of the staggering amount of assertions and bumbling fallacies they managed to squeeze in, suggests you haven't done much of that anyway. From my Satanic lair, here in the Scottish Highlands. I shall use my omni-Baphomet powers to devine just who you are. Here goes: You are, at the very least, a strong deist. However, I reckon you're far more than just a deist. I'm going to guess you're American, Christian, non denominational/pentacostal, loudly evangelical. You're a six day creationist and you've never travelled anywhere or felt an urge to investigate the rest of the world. As a last wee stab in the dark, I'm going to say you get your understanding of physics from the likes of AiG or PragerU. How did I do? If I've gotten this whole thing wrong and you're not the type I think you may be. Then I'm really, really, really, oh so very vey sorry for my hurtful Scottish sarcasm.😏 Hail Satan.

[@martinarcher1503]

either Simon has the biggest brain in the world, or he's the greatest teleprompter reader of all time. How do they produce 4 or 5 of these a week across their different channels, and he seems to understand every aspect of them all in the way he presents them?

[@davidfl4]

Simon is certainly not writing these himself. But he certainly comes across like he’s not just reading a script. Maybe what makes him so good is that he tries to understand these topics?

[@captainoates7236]

The way he said columns instead of coulombs hints that he possibly doesn't know the subject as well as it appears.

[@captainspaulding5963]

Simon has said multiple times that he retains next to no knowledge from the scripts he reads.

[@DeeplyStill]

Brilliant piece Simon.very interesting

[@DeeplyStill]

…but you’re wrong. It’s definitely 42

[@HarryPairoftestes]

Simon behind that desk😂😂😂... AM I RIGHT PETER!!!...

[@terryenby2304]

Hmm juicy chunks of physics info for my hungry noggin.

[@braaitongs]

The Electric constant is the dielectric permittivity of free space. Speed of light is determined by the permittivity and permeability of the medium it is travelling through.

[@sparking023]

Scientists looking at some arbitrary number and wondering "why are you the way you are?". It's this kind of inquisitive nature that got us where we are. I'll definitely add this to my list of questions to the Lord

[@damiensadventure]

I really like this channel!

[@ThatWriterKevin]

Thanks!

[@jimbrogan9835]

We know that it exists, but have no idea why or what it means. I love it!

[@river20222]

I thought I'd found all your channels 😅 boom another one.

[@Penfolduk001]

Given that Pi is a dimensionless constant derived from a ratio concerning the circle, could the fine structure constant be a similar ratio derived from something in the quantum realm? Especially if it has varied over time.

[@camilosantos4380]

libro " ASCENSO, Civilización de los Humus " pubblicato su Amazon.Nel libro viene proposta una teoria che unifica la fisica relativistica e la fisica quantistica, supportata da un calcolo matematico e analitico della costante di struttura fine (1/137) per la terza dimensione e le altre dimensioni che compongono l'Universo. La teoria include gli universi paralleli e speculari. Inoltre, propone una teoria matematica su come dovrebbe essere strutturato il multiverso e come agiscono la materia e l'energia oscura al suo interno.

[@nancyhope2205]

What about temperature? That seems to be a massive variable.

[@BBL_TomTanks]

Hey there! Loved the video. Big fan. Quick question: How many friggin KZbin channels you got bro?! 😂😅

[@tybeedave]

@simon...42 is the number of events required for proton synthesis. 1/137 is an approximation of the finer things in life or the chance that newton was right about gravity. i thought u knew this....

[@stickyb5247]

Elementary charge is the smallest possible independent existing unit , entity on which it's own self attraction can form separate unit. Finite constant could be the ratio in with escaping charge have to pay to overcome this

[@davis4555]

Wolfgang Pauley: "Devil! Tell me the meaning of the number!" Devil: " No. Welcome to hell."

[@stevenmackey582]

“There are a bajillion just right conditions for life to exist, but don’t worry about it”

[@JaredLS10]

This one made my head hurt.

[@tybeedave]

now we want content about the superfine constant. yes, there is one

[@roby1376]

Great! Thank you

[@kreiner1]

Ok, I didn't get all of it, but what i got was really cool.

[@ThatWriterKevin]

Glad you enjoyed what you understood!

[@JohnBerry-q1h]

The *fine structure constant* would seem to be very related to the equation that reveals the expected *resonant frequency* for a simple *resonant electrical circuit,* which happens to be ONE OVER the quantity *2 pi* TIMES the SQUARE ROOT of the quantity *total circuit inductance* TIMES *total circuit capacitance.* Basically, if the equation (for frequency) that I just presented were simply called *f* , then the equation the video showed for the *fine structure constant* is straightforwardly some version of *f SQUARED* . And this would make good sense, because the term that represents *the permittivity of free space* is always given in units of *Farad per meter* (in which *Farad* is the standard unit for *electrical capacitance* . )

[@polluxblack9438]

I just found this channel! When did this one get made??

[@michaelccopelandsr7120]

Time is fascinating. I worked the subway stations for nearly 10 years. From one end of the city to the other. Every so often I would notice the city would be saying that, "Today just flew by" or "The day was just dragging along." How can an entire city, with no interaction with each other until they used the subway, complain about the same time paradox unless it was effected by it? Maybe a time distorted bubble the earth passes through in its revolution around the sun. Maybe random waves of time distortion hitting the earth? Maybe they're given off by the sun. Maybe they're from outside our Terran system and reach us in intervals. ???? 🎶Ti-i-i-ime, is on my side. Yes, it is!🎶 If you can think of a better way to do a blind survey of an entire city, in the small window of opportunity, I'm all in. Until then, I invite you to spend a couple years in the subways, during rush hour and you'll see for yourself. Just listen as an entire city gets off of work and gets out of school. You'll see it's more than a, "coincidence of circumstances."

[@captainspaulding5963]

Because people relate to other people..... if enough people around you coincidentally happened to have a bad day, chance are, you yourself are going to start thinking about the bad things that happened during your own day.

[@uuu12343]

SIMON YOU ARE ALIVE

[@Sky_Dave]

"The mass of the alpha particle in the Rutherford experiments was inhabiting the equations in a strange way. Rutherford wrote the impact parameter equation as a charge equation, but then inserted the mass of the alpha particle without transforming it into a charge entity. b = √ [1 + cosθ /1 - cosθ ] kQq/mv2 Where b is the impact parameter. If we study the form of that equation closely, we find that the field in the numerator of Rutherford's equation doesn't match the field of his denominator. The numerator is written in terms of charge (as we see from q and the constant k), while the denominator is written as mass. The kinetic energy mv2 is not a charge entity and can't be included in a charge equation without transforming it into a charge entity. What we need is a transform from mass to charge, to correct the equation and make the numerator match the denominator. I found that this transform just happened to be the fine structure constant. That's right: what Rutherford needed was a way to write the alpha mass as charge.To transform the alpha mass into charge, we simply create a photon with the same energy as the alpha, and then calculate its mass equivalence from the equation E=mc2. We can use that equation without gamma because we are applying the equation to a photon. Relativity doesn't apply to photons, according to Einstein's Principle 2. Relativity transforms everything except light. Light is the cause of Relativity, so you cannot transform light itself. The mass of that created photon with the same energy as the alpha is the charge equivalence we need to correct the Rutherford equation. The alpha mass is not a charge entity and so it cannot inhabit a charge equation. But the mass of the equivalent photon is a charge entity, and can. And the ratio of the mass of that created photon to the mass of the alpha is the fine structure constant: mγ/mα = .0073 In other words, we multiply the mass of a particle by .0073 to find its charge equivalent. The fine structure constant is a mass to charge transform. It is also a transform between normal matter and light. It tells us that at equal energies, light is that much less massive than normal matter. The greater velocity of light makes up the energy difference." ~Miles Mathis from his paper on "The Fine Structure Constant" There are two newer papers on the fine structure constant, clarifying the mechanics yet again. See More on the Fine Structure Constant and The Fine Structure Constant Again.

[@malectric]

Fair enough! I won't dwell on it any longer. Having said that, I guess the epsilon0 is the permittivity of free space? I wonder what changes if one use the permeability of free space (translated from E0 of course). There is a simple function involving c which allows translation from one to the other. Must try it and see. Damn - can't stop thinking about it 😞

[@thowe9573]

I came across the inverse before I'd heard of the fine structure constant but couldn't see any reason for the two items to have any relationship. After looking at the equation for a Schwarzschild radius, I decided to check what the equivalent equation would be for the electromagnetic force. It turns out that a nucleus with about 137 proton charges would coincide with the requirement for an electron in the lowest energy state to orbit that nucleus at the speed of light. The precise number is the inverse of the fine structure constant. Weird but inexplicable.

[@wmarsh9796]

Amazing how they’re 100s of constants that make existence possible. Just random. 😇

[@chadhall9865]

Simon, how the hell do you manage to explain so much stuff no one understands? You are truly a gift from the KZbin gods.

[@taddybear4244]

Excellent script writers.

[@sunnytailor5635]

The fine structure constant can actually be variable in time and space since both are variables throughout the universe based on gravity (variable), to have conclusive answer we need to look at fundamentals of a black hole which with current technology is still far from reach. In simple terms the atomic structure electrons are at fixed distance from the nucleus but in a black hole due to singularity electrons could be very close to the nucleus or even part of nucleus itself due to how dense the center of black hole is leading to change in the fine structure constant though by how much or even if its actually a case is still a mystery.

[@dansnyder82]

Mind melted

[@spamuel98]

Statistically speaking, it could just be existential bias; we're only here to wonder about this constant because it exists in the first place, and because we recognize how important it is we wonder what would happen if it changed, but it's entirely possible that that constant is only in our relative vicinity and the edge of the universe is where the constant deviates beyond what could sustain matter. But then that circles around to the question of whether our universe is the only one, or if there are others out there, maybe fluctuations in this constant are like the middle sections of waves, not the peaks or troughs, but just in the middle enough for something to happen.

[@michaelmanning9028]

Quantum physics/Quantum mechanics are so interesting! But holy crap do they hurt my head.😅

[@81giorikas]

Constants are the universe's middle finger in us humans. Whatever we don't know, it's a constant. Not only that, the plank constant is a stop, like stop here you can't go smaller.

[@voshadxgathic]

It's interesting to consider perhaps that it's representative of our location in the universe. Like a postal code of latitude or longitude, though there'd clearly need to be a z axis as well. Perhaps other locations are truly off just a little bit. Perhaps there's greater differences further out. The observable universe is just a rather tiny fraction of it after all.

[@honeybadger036]

What a far more important question for all of life in this universe, is just how many KZbin channels you actually have Simon. No seriously, how many are there?

[@CarlosOliveira-tc1hr]

I noticed a typo in the standard prefixes for the SI units table at 11:11 that mega, peta, nano and femto are not with their respective numeric scales of 9, 15, 9, 15, instead there's a "t". Besides, in the lower scales divisors 1/10E1 is a deci- not deca-.

[@davebritton7648]

Yeah, I noticed that. 😑

[@bhgtree]

The fine-structure constant seems to be the Fibonacci of the Quantum world.

[@GiulioRicciardi]

First question to the devil 😂😂😂 badass

[@jetcitykitty]

Would love it if you go into numbers theory sometime because even just the number seven is pretty amazing when you break it down❤

[@ZER0--]

What makes the number 7 pretty amazing if you break it down?

[@TheKrausenKid]

@@ZER0-- My whole life whenever I didn't know the answer to a math question I would guess 7 and It was the correct answer much more often than it was wrong. Subconsciously number theory was effecting the question making process for many a professors exam.

[@ThatWriterKevin]

Are you talking about numerology? We definitely wouldn't cover that on this channel

[@jetcitykitty]

@@ThatWriterKevin number theory is not the same as numerology. Otherwise, I would call it numerology. I'm talking about how numbers work not what they mean in Hocus pocus world.

[@jetcitykitty]

@@ZER0-- pull up your calculator app and divide any number by 7 and look at the answers you get. There should be a repeating sequence of digits that appear in every answer no matter what number you divide by 7. It's not numerology it's just how numbers function. It's mind-blowing and it's actually science 😲

[@daniel-is6zf]

Was that a hitchhiker's guide joke 😅

[@anthonyhudson2265]

There is a similar constant for the strong force which quantifies the strength of that force, and its value is approximately 1. Both of these constants change their values at higher energies due to renormalization and at a certain energy, get extremely close to each other in value. This is one of the principle motivations for grand unified theories. This would also explain why these constants have the values that they have, because if the symmetry breaking mechanism must take effect at a certain energy, then the coupling constants must have values that unify at that energy.

[@another3997]

A constant that changes isn't a constant, it's a variable... because it varies. All of these measurements have the same fundamental problems. We have a limited viewpoint to view the Universe: our planet and a small area around it. We only see what it's like now. For maybe 200 years, we've been sat in one spot, taking measurements of things that happened billions of years ago, and have travelled unimaginable distances. It's like determining global weather patterns for the last 10,000 years based solely on the watching the weather outside your house for the last week. 😂

[@anthonyhudson2265]

@@another3997 It's not a variable either, because it can't be any value. Technically, it's a "parameter." And actually, these measurements are some of the most precise measurements in all of science. Again, the reason why these parameters change values at high energies (which is called coupling running) is *renormalization,* and the same thing happens with gauge fixing, again because of renormalization. Granted, we generally don't understand renormalization, because so far mathematicians and physicists have only made it a rigorous procedure in 2 and 3 spacetime dimensions (keywords: so far), but that's another issue.

[@The_RC_Guru]

This guys kids and grandkids are gonna have years of footage from Simon.

[@theUglyGypsy]

They'll be playing whistlerverse videos in the vaults for education at the end

[@patrickbrumm420]

Rick & Morty's dimension is called C-137

[@niravdarmesh5278]

"' 'At's been tha show." -Aspen Cho

[@Chris-ok4zo]

"The numbers, Mason! What do they mean?"

[@theangrycucco]

Damn Simon how many channels do you have.

[@yash911100]

It also appears in Rick and Morty as their dimension being C-137, where C is the speed of light and 137 is all being explained here

[@Iowa599]

Obviously the problem is ours. The numbers work in real life, but we can't see how. The problem is what all our numbing systems share, base ten. In base 12 that 1/137 becomes 1/b5, so it is easy to solve.

[@TheDarkbluerock]

Dude, how am I constantly finding more channels from you? How many channels/Simon-clones are there?

[@Genesh12]

I new Simon Whistler channel? Wow!

[@CanadianDerwood]

Umm, the speed of light in a vacuum is debated.. due to its 2 directions of travel. One cannot assume that both trips are equal in time.

[@Adreitz7]

Simon, there is no circular logic with the speed of light vs. the length of the meter. There has just been a reversal of the definitions that was completed recently. Previously the meter was defined by a physical object (platinum bar held in a laboratory) while the speed of light was experimentally determined using that value of the meter and the definition of the second (based on electron energy level transitions in a particular element). But because using a particular physical object has inherent weaknesses (contamination, damage, dependence on temperature, etc), recently the speed of light has been fixed at a particular value and the length of the meter redefined to be based on it and the length of the second. Now, with either definition of meter/speed of light, the sizes of the meter, kilogram, and second are actually arbitrary and adapted from pre-existing definitions that were created for human convenience. I wonder if the particular value of the fine structure constant is instead pointing toward more fundamental values for these constants where alpha might equal 1. Its ubiquity would then make complete sense, since lots of things are related by the value 1.

[@harrkev]

The fine structure constant does not have units. Any alien in our galaxy would get the same number.

[@philippeperreault2604]

Starting to think Simon cloned himself many times in order to keep making so many high videos!

[@BenAlternate-zf9nr]

If the fine structure constant is variable, which of the constituent constants would change?

[@DABmonger]

1/137 is the chance that this episode didn't use the PBS Space Time episode on the same topic.

[@sk8pkl]

I think the real explanation for the fine structure constant being 1/137 is just to complexe for us to understand in a whole. I think it's value comes from a geometric relationship with the other constants, assuming the whole universe is a fractal that sprouts from the number 1. If you know about the harmonic series, music theory, binary code, number theory, euclidean geometry, Pythagoras theoreme and alot more things along these lines, everything seems to line up and fit instinctively, but it gets very hard to find the words to put it out in a concise way. It is very very complexe, but simple and very pretty... wich is probably a good sign! Have a good one!

[@anthonyhudson2265]

There is a similar constant for the strong force which quantifies the strength of that force, and its value is approximately 1. Both of these constants change their values at higher energies due to renormalization and at a certain energy, get extremely close to each other in value. This is one of the principle motivations for grand unified theories, which would explain why these constants have the values that they have, because if the symmetry breaking mechanism must take effect at a certain energy, then the coupling constants must have values that unify at that energy.

[@sk8pkl]

@@anthonyhudson2265 yes, i know.

[@personzorz]

Dang, Pauli was a baller

[@sandybottom6623]

Gravity is the repulsive force between space time - the 'ether' - and mass. Electromagnetic waves are ripples in space time - ie essentially variations in gravitational strength, size of space and rate of change of time. EM waves go left & right \ up & down. Light goes in & out. The closer space time is together the slower time goes and the smaller the spatial dimensions are. A gradient in space time produces a gravitational force. Mass displaces space time thus creating a gradient that produces gravity. The density of space time is not constant. The rate of change of time is the common variable - controllable factor. Run with that.

[@adeyemi120]

There is evidence to show that the constant could be slightly stronger or slightly weaker and life will still exist but it is within a confidence level