Bob Berman’s Strange Universe: The dimensionless constant

February 2011: Scientists are discovering our universe may not be as invariable as previously thought.

Contributed by Bob Berman

Published: December 27, 2010

Four forces are woven into every crack and crevice in the universe. Stars, galaxies, puppies, or pizza wouldn't exist without them.

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JEFFREY RUDELL from FLORIDA said:

Nice work, I would like tohear more about a, 1/137. I will try and search it on Wikipedia.

LARS LINDSTROM from PENNSYLVANIA said:

As usual, Bob´s column is very interesting and stimulates my imagination. Imagine this: What if the infinite universe isn´t exactly flat but slightly wavy in the 4th dimension and the waves slowly moving in a direction at right angles to the arrow of time. If the visible universe is situated at the "slope" of a "wave", then the part higher on the "slope" would be slightly ahead in time from the part lower on the "slope". This could maybe explain why the expansion of the visible universe is accelerating; when the visible universe is situated on a "downhill slope", the expansion would decelerate again and the "dimensionless constant" would get larger where it is smaller today and vice versa. Mind you, I´m not a scientist, just an amateur, but things like these make my life in my old days very interesting! Keep up the good work, mr. Berman! And clear black skies to all my fellow amateur astronomers!

DON LATHAM from MONTANA said:

Help, Bob: If this gets to you? If it's dimensionless, then it ain't a force! Hope that howler don't get in yer book...
Best to ya, beware the 21 Dec.

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