“i can breathe for the first time / i’m so moving on yeah / thanks to you / now i get what i want”

[larryhammer]

A few stunning links:

Formulations of quantum mechanics that do not use complex numbers, only real numbers, cannot correctly match all predictions of “standard” quantum mechanics. IOW, imaginary numbers are real. (via lost)

A column about dip hop, in which deaf rappers lay down rhymes in sign, with or without oral rapping as well. (via)

Woodblock printmaker David Bull is creating prints from a series of previously unpublished drawings by Katsushika Hokusai, originally created for a project called “The Great Picture Book of Everything” that was canceled for reasons unknown. The first print (at the top) is of Kannon/Guan-yin riding a dragon’s head. Relevant British Museum website, and search results for all 103 drawings.

Subject quote from Since U Been Gone, Kelly Clarkson.

Comments

[sartorias]

While I'm far too stupid to understand anything about quantum mechanics, I was sure wowed by those two woodcuts.
Such mythic power! And speaking about mythic power, same with dip hop! As soon as son wakes up, I intend to show him that vid.

[larryhammer]

I love love love the expression on the dragon’s face.

[mrissa]

Of course imaginary numbers are real, most of electrical engineering relies upon them.

[larryhammer]

Ah, but you can reformulate the equations to use only real numbers. They’re more cumbersome to use that way, but imaginary numbers aren’t required. This means some people have been able to insist that imaginary numbers are merely a calculational convenience without any significance in the physical world.

For a long time, these sorts of people believed the same thing holds true for the equations of quantum mechanics. What the authors of the article showed is that, in that case, this isn’t true — imaginaries are required, and therefore are “real.”

[mrissa]

I mean, your quotation marks are well-founded because, and I say this as a trained physicist, we're talking about approximations, not ultimate reality, when we talk about physics equations, but sure, they're "real" in the same sense that real numbers are real, which is to say: physically useful.

[larryhammer]

As a fellow trained physicist, I’m in total agreement. It’s nice to have someone formally confirm our intuition.