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A particle accelerator in the US has shown compelling hints of a never-before-seen particle, researchers say . . . It could also signal a new fundamental force of nature, and the most radical change in physics for decades.
Aerospace and flying ...
Q: As a passenger on an aircraft, how is it I can see the curvature of the earth?
A: Quite simply you cannot. It is widely stated you would need to be at a height of at least 40,000 ft to get even a hint of curvature if earth were round. Commercial aircraft are not allowed to fly this high. They are only allowed to fly just under this altitude. 36,000ft might be typical.
Q: What about Concorde? That flew at 60,000 ft.
A: It did, but Concorde also had incredibly small windows as a design concession, to prevent passengers seeing enough of the horizon and building up a picture of earth's shape for themselves. Only 6 inches across. As even that was deemed risky, Concorde has since been decommissioned.
Q: So what about flight times then? How can FEr's calculate times with the distorted map above?
A: Quite simply RErs can't do that either. There are two many variables. Performance is effected by fuel loads, ambient temperatures and pressures, engine models, the list goes on. Depending on what is happening with other traffic you might be in a hold, or routed out of your way to avoid other traffic or storms. The pilots do not fly direct to their destination either. Depending on the wind they might take off in the opposite direction to the intended route. They then fly SIDS (Standard Instrument Departures) onto a route, follow some beacons, get onto an Oceanic Highway on the way their, follow a STAR (STandard ARrival) on approach, and again go right round the back of an airport to land in the right direction. When pilots are following routes like the typical ones below, how can anyone make a simple straight line DST comparison to ascertain shape? Only the aircraft's Flight Management System really knows how far that trip is. The pilot just uses the data it provides. However FMS source code is closely guarded.
Below is a SID example. Note how the pilots fly curves and loops. They do not go direct.
Q: Well what about flying in the Southern 'Hemisphere'? Surely that would take much longer than times we have.
A: No. Pilots make use of jet-streams in both directions.QuoteJet streams are undulating bands of strong, high-altitude winds, associated with cold fronts. They have an average altitude of 10 km and may occasionally exceed 400 km/h. Pilots often seek out a jet stream to speed their jet planes along.http://www.moriartey.ca/wd/wxfacts1.php
Q: What about balloon flights? I see lots of amateur videos on the internet of high altitude camera shots.
A: They do not show ball-like curvature. The horizon curves all the way around, but what do you expect? Look at the map in the geography section above. The earth is flat and round like a plate. It is this curvature you see. Not the earth falling away at the edges.
Q: How come the sun takes longer to set when flying west?
A: Again look at the FE map above. You are following the spotlight of the sun for longer, when you fly west.
Q: What about Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles? You said there was no space flight.
A: Correct. ICBMs fly just below what would be deemed space. Orbit is not possible.
