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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

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Fermi Telescope Peers Deep into Microquasar

Fermi Telescope Peers Deep into Microquasar (w/ Video)

Space & Earth / Astronomy

created Nov 27, 2009 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (16) | comments 0

(PhysOrg.com) -- NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has made the first unambiguous detection of high-energy gamma-rays from an enigmatic binary system known as Cygnus X-3. The system pairs a hot, massive ...


The Energy Sources of Ultraluminous Galaxies

The Energy Sources of Ultraluminous Galaxies

Space & Earth / Astronomy

created Nov 27, 2009 | popularity 4.6 / 5 (18) | comments 1

(PhysOrg.com) -- Ultraluminous infrared galaxies ((ULIRGs) are galaxies whose luminosity exceeds that of a trillion suns; for comparison, the Milky Way galaxy has a typical (and much more modest) luminosity ...


Superconductor magnet heat shield being developed

Superconductor magnet spacecraft heat shield being developed

Physics / General Physics

created Nov 26, 2009 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (36) | comments 25

(PhysOrg.com) -- European space agencies and an aerospace giant are developing a new re-entry heat shield that will use superconductor magnets to generate a magnetic field strong enough to deflect the superhot ...


Spitzer Telescope Observes Baby Brown Dwarf

Spitzer Telescope Observes Baby Brown Dwarf

Space & Earth / Astronomy

created Nov 23, 2009 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (13) | comments 0

(PhysOrg.com) -- NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has contributed to the discovery of the youngest brown dwarf ever observed -- a finding that, if confirmed, may solve an astronomical mystery about how these ...


The International Space Station

NASA: Floating 'junk' no threat to space station

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

created 22 hours ago | popularity 4.5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

(AP) -- NASA says a piece of old space junk that it's been tracking for a few days is no threat to the International Space Station.


Space shuttle Atlantis, 7 astronauts back on Earth (AP)

Space shuttle Atlantis, 7 astronauts back on Earth

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

created Nov 27, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

(AP) -- Space shuttle Atlantis and its seven astronauts returned to Earth with a smooth touchdown Friday to end an 11-day flight that resupplied the International Space Station.


China is set to launch its second moon orbiter next October, state media have reported

China to launch second lunar probe: state media

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

created Nov 27, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (6) | comments 0

China will launch its second moon orbiter next October, state media reported Friday, as it powers ahead with a space programme that has sparked concerns abroad.


Astronauts surprised by holiday turkey dinners (AP)

Astronauts surprised by holiday turkey dinners

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

created Nov 26, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

(AP) -- Space shuttle Atlantis' astronauts thought they were going to give thanks with pantry leftovers Thursday as their mission drew to a close, but found turkey dinners awaiting them.


Russia: no space for space tourists (AP)

Russia: no space for space tourists

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

created Nov 26, 2009 | popularity 2.7 / 5 (3) | comments 1

(AP) -- A top Russian space official says there is no space for tourists wishing to fly to the International Space Station.


Infrared Image of Circumstellar Disk Illuminates Massive Star Formation Process

Infrared Image of Circumstellar Disk Illuminates Massive Star Formation Process

Space & Earth / Astronomy

created Nov 24, 2009 | popularity 4.6 / 5 (5) | comments 1

(PhysOrg.com) -- A team of astronomers from Ibaraki University, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Kanagawa University, University of Tokyo, Academica Sinica, and National Astronomical Observatory of Japan ...


Nanotech in Space: Experiment To Weather the Trials of Orbit

Nanotech in Space: Experiment To Weather the Trials of Orbit

Nanotechnology / Nanomaterials

created Nov 24, 2009 | popularity 4 / 5 (2) | comments 0

Novel nanomaterials developed at Rensselaer were sent into orbit on Nov. 16 aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis.


Herschel takes a peek at the ingredients of the galaxies

Herschel takes a peek at the ingredients of the galaxies

Space & Earth / Astronomy

created Nov 27, 2009 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (9) | comments 1

(PhysOrg.com) -- The European Space Agency has today released spectacular new observations from the Herschel Space Observatory, including the UK-led SPIRE instrument. Spectrometers on board all three Hershel ...


Thanksgiving last full day in space for shuttle (AP)

Thanksgiving last full day in space for shuttle

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

created Nov 26, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

(AP) -- Space shuttle Atlantis' astronauts will spend Thanksgiving checking their ship for the ride home.


Shuttle Atlantis leaves space station, headed home (AP)

Shuttle Atlantis leaves space station, headed home

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

created Nov 25, 2009 | popularity 4 / 5 (1) | comments 0

(AP) -- Atlantis and its seven astronauts have left the International Space Station.


U.S. losing its lead in space, experts warn Congress

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

created Nov 24, 2009 | popularity 3 / 5 (8) | comments 6

America's once clear dominance in space is eroding as other nations, including China, Iran and North Korea, step up their activities, a panel of experts told the House subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics Thursday.