Other than the existance of matter itself...What do you think is the greatest phenomenon you've encountered in your studies of the universe
2006-08-13 14:57:32 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Murphy's law and the laws of probability.
2006-08-13 16:33:24 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That I have specifically studied? HD 209458b, the planet with it's atmosphere being blown away by it's star blows my frickin mind.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HD_209458b - lots of other sites but they are full of mumbo jumbo science talk
In my astrophysics class I was most delighted by the various things you could learn about a distant object through it's radiation.
In planetary geology I was dazzled by the discription of Metallic Hydrogen.
In physics classes I love studying electricity and energy.
In math lately I have been amazed by the applications. I can remember thinking in earlier math "oh but I can never know exactly how much area is under a curved line, only straight ones with geometry." Integrals are wonderful things. I can't imagine what I have yet to touch on.
2006-08-13 15:12:15 · answer #2 · answered by iMi 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Goedel's incompleteness theorem, which, amongst other things, proves that any mathematics we create will contain statements that can neither be proven true or false, and the corollary that any internally consistent system cannot show itself to be internally consistent (and an internally inconsistent system can be used to show that it IS consistent.)
Essentially this means that our mathmatical constructs are doomed to have holes in them and since math is what we use to describe and predict nature, we won't ever be able to completely and uniquely describe the universe.
2006-08-13 15:23:14 · answer #3 · answered by Mr. Quark 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Too deep....it hurts
Russell's paradox is the most famous of the logical or set-theoretical paradoxes. The paradox arises within naive set theory by considering the set of all sets that are not members of themselves. Such a set appears to be a member of itself if and only if it is not a member of itself, hence the paradox.
Some sets, such as the set of all teacups, are not members of themselves. Other sets, such as the set of all non-teacups, are members of themselves. Call the set of all sets that are not members of themselves "R." If R is a member of itself, then by definition it must not be a member of itself. Similarly, if R is not a member of itself, then by definition it must be a member of itself. Discovered by Bertrand Russell in 1901, the paradox has prompted much work in logic, set theory and the philosophy and foundations of mathematics.
2006-08-13 15:03:59 · answer #4 · answered by TheSilence 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Whether we are alone in the universe or is the universe teaming with life (and intelligent life forms) Either answer is mind boggling.
2006-08-13 15:09:41 · answer #5 · answered by Pyramider 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The study of conversion of energy from one form to another.
2006-08-13 15:02:39 · answer #6 · answered by cooler 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The theory that collapsing stars of 3 or more solar masses can spin so fast that light can't escape from it.
2006-08-13 15:01:21 · answer #7 · answered by adklsjfklsdj 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That scourge called gravity - my arch enemy.
Gravity is EVIL.
Worst analytical scientific nightmare I ever encountered.
2006-08-13 15:45:56 · answer #8 · answered by Jay T 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The study of energy is fascinating.
2006-08-13 15:00:36 · answer #9 · answered by shmifty__14 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dark matter
2006-08-13 17:53:55 · answer #10 · answered by hipichick777 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋