AaS! 134: Is there a fifth force of nature?

Ask a Spaceman!

Paul M. Sutter

Astrophysics, Science, Cosmos, Holes, Black, Astronomy, Natural Sciences, Universe, Cosmology, Space, Physics

4.8 • 853 Ratings

🗓️ 18 August 2020

⏱️ 33 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Are there more than four forces of nature? Is dark matter connected to dark energy? What the heck are dark photons? I discuss these questions and more in today’s Ask a Spaceman!

Support the show: http://www.patreon.com/pmsutter
All episodes: http://www.AskASpaceman.com

Follow on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/PaulMattSutter
Like on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PaulMattSutter
Watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/PaulMSutter

Read a book: http://www.pmsutter/book
Go on an adventure: http://www.AstroTours.co

Keep those questions about space, science, astronomy, astrophysics, physics, and cosmology coming to #AskASpaceman for COMPLETE KNOWLEDGE OF TIME AND SPACE!

Big thanks to my top Patreon supporters this month: Matthew K, Justin Z, Justin G, Kevin O, Duncan M, Corey D, Barbara K, Neuterdude, Chris C, Robert M, Nate H, Andrew F, Chris L, Cameron L, Nalia, Aaron S, Kirk T, Tom B, Scott M, Billy T, Tim R, Joe R, Neil P, Bryan D, Irene P, Matt C, Iothian53, Steve P, Debra S, Ken L, Alberto M, Ron W, Chris L, Mark R, Alan B, Stephen J, David P, John F, Maureen R, Frank T, Craig B, Jesse A, Steven L, Ulfert B, Dave L, Stace J, S Stark, Richard K, Carol S, Stephen M, Grace M, Jeremy K, Russell W, David B, Tamara F, Robert B, Fr Bruce W, Catherine R, Nicolai B, Sean M, Nate H, Edward K, Ped, Chuck C, Stephen S, Elizabeth W, Eric F, Tracy F, Callan R, George, Tom G, Monika, Michael H, Tom, Sarah K, Robert S, Gerald, Jens O, Ella F, Sarah K, JJ_Holy, G Clune, Ryan L, Fenris N, Cindy R, Judy D, Sam R, Tom Van S, Bradley H, Thomas K, James C, Jorg D, Nicole M, Stu S, Syamkumar M, John S, db8y97, Fred S, Robin M, Marc S, COTFM, Dr. Johnny Fever, BikeSanta, Darren W, Vladimir Z, Norm Z, Howard, Keith W, Homer V, Kevin P, Robert H, Mark D, Sean P, Ron S, David W, Sheldon S, Tanner B, Antonio M, Brianna V, Becky L, Jim B, Bruce A, Kia K, Derek N, Arthur, Bill H, Justin W, Dave D, Colin B, David L, Steven M, Richard S, Brent B, and Matthew R!

Music by Jason Grady and Nick Bain. Thanks to Cathy Rinella for editing.

Hosted by Paul M. Sutter, astrophysicist and the one and only Agent to the Stars (http://www.pmsutter.com).

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	What does it mean for there to be a force of nature?
0:15.4	We're surrounded by things that aren't constantly, well, happening.
0:19.2	You drop your keys and have to pick them up.
0:21.1	The chair creaks when you sit in it. The sun feels good on your skin. What's that smell?
0:26.6	Mmm. The world around us is alive and buzzing with activity. It appears as if reality is made
0:34.4	of objects that are constantly interacting in a number of weird and wonderful ways.
0:40.1	So what's the difference between an interaction and a force of nature?
0:45.9	The forces of nature are fundamental.
0:50.1	This is a very, very important word.
0:51.7	It means that this force, a cause of an interaction, cannot be broken down into smaller bits.
1:02.4	It itself can explain a variety of interactions.
1:07.8	It explains a bunch of phenomena.
1:09.7	It can't be broken down.
1:11.4	It is important.
1:13.1	It is essential.
1:14.4	It is critical.
1:15.6	It is fundamental.
1:18.0	What we call a force of nature is our theory of an interaction.
1:24.1	We see something happening in the universe, whatever that thing is, and we
1:29.7	ascribe a force to it. The force is what we use to explain the interaction. You drop your keys.
1:36.8	That is some sort of interaction between you, your keys, and the ground. The forces, the fundamental
1:43.2	forces are the things that are able to explain that interaction
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Paul M. Sutter, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Paul M. Sutter and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.