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Space

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Space is the boundless, three-dimensional extent in which objects and events occur and have relative position and direction. Physical space is often conceived in three linear dimensions, although modern physicists usually consider it, with time, to be part of the boundless four-dimensional continuum known as spacetime. In mathematics spaces with different numbers of dimensions and with different underlying structures can be examined. The concept of space is considered to be of fundamental importance to an understanding of the universe although disagreement continues between philosophers over whether it is itself an entity, a relationship between entities, or part of a conceptual framework.

Many of the philosophical questions arose in the 17th century, during the early development of classical mechanics. In Isaac Newton's view, space was absolute - in the sense that it existed permanently and independently of whether there were any matter in the space. Other natural philosophers, notably Gottfried Leibniz, thought instead that space was a collection of relations between objects, given by their distance and direction from one another. In the 18th century, Immanuel Kant described space and time as elements of a systematic framework which humans use to structure their experience.

In the 19th and 20th centuries mathematicians began to examine non-Euclidean geometries, in which space can be said to be curved, rather than flat. According to Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity, space around gravitational fields deviates from Euclidean space. Experimental tests of general relativity have confirmed that non-Euclidean space provides a better model for explaining the existing laws of mechanics and optics.

For more information about Space, read the full article at Wikipedia.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.


News tagged with space


As shuttle's career nears an end, NASA turns focus to satellites

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

created Dec 26, 2009 | popularity 4.4 / 5 (8) | comments 2

NASA heads into 2010 with the bittersweet assignment of retiring the space shuttle after nearly three decades. But that's not all the agency has planned: There are also launches of three new satellites aimed at better understanding ...





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Cockroaches offer inspiration for running robots

Cockroaches offer inspiration for running robots

Electronics / Robotics

created 9 hours ago | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

The sight of a cockroach scurrying for cover may be nauseating, but the insect is also a biological and engineering marvel, and is providing researchers at Oregon State University with what they call "bioinspiration" ...


Consumer Watchdog and the Center for Digital Democracy (CDD) asked the FTC to oppose Google's acquisition of AdMob

Consumer groups try to block Google purchase of AdMob

Technology / Internet

created 13 hours ago | popularity 1 / 5 (4) | comments 0

Two consumer groups urged the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Monday to block Internet search and advertising giant Google's proposed purchase of mobile advertising company AdMob.


Seeing without looking

Seeing without looking

Medicine & Health / Neuroscience

created 16 hours ago | popularity 4.8 / 5 (9) | comments 2

Like a spotlight that illuminates an otherwise dark scene, attention brings to mind specific details of our environment while shutting others out. A new study by researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological ...


As the World Churns

As the World Churns

Space & Earth / Earth Sciences

created 21 hours ago | popularity 4.4 / 5 (12) | comments 20

(PhysOrg.com) -- "Terra firma." It's Latin for "solid Earth." Most of the time, at least from our perspective here on the ground, Earth seems to be just that: solid. Yet the Earth beneath our feet is actually ...


Cell phone mania forces scramble for more airwaves (AP)

Cell phone mania forces scramble for more airwaves

Technology / Telecom

created Dec 27, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 1

(AP) -- Wireless devices such as Apple's iPhone are transforming the way we go online, making it possible to look up driving directions, find the nearest coffee shop and update Facebook on the go. All this ...


Voyager makes an interstellar discovery

Voyager makes an interstellar discovery

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

created Dec 26, 2009 | popularity 4.7 / 5 (57) | comments 21

The solar system is passing through an interstellar cloud that physics says should not exist. In the Dec. 24th issue of Nature, a team of scientists reveal how NASA's Voyager spacecraft have solved the mystery.



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