[Science] Time travel? Changing events?

[Afterburner]

I don't mean we'd ever be able to do it, I just pointing out that there is only one way for events to unfold, which makes them inherently predictable, if you could get past the uncertainty principle (and you don't have to tell me you can't.)

Though that reminds me of a funny joke we'd always make about one of our robotics mentors. We joked he followed Heisenberg's uncertainty principle because we never knew both where he was and what he was doing at the same time.

[Anlushac11]

But we built a Heisenberg Compensator.

[NiteStryker]

Go back in time and spray a can of raid on the first microbes.

See wtf happens...

[Showd0wN]

I just pointing out that there is only one way for events to unfold

Well actually this is untrue as well; and is well demonstrated within Quantum Field Theory.

[Afterburner]

Originally Posted by clan.necrosect

Well actually this is untrue as well; and is well demonstrated within Quantum Field Theory.

We don't all have time to study advanced physics so could you explain as simply as possible?

[Showd0wN]

Ok basically there is a degree of randomness to all events. The idea that things behave "linearly" or predictably is actually untrue.

In fact you don't need to go as advaned as QFT, so I'm sorry I did.

The simplest example is what is known as the "three body problem".
Basically if you have a "2 body" problem (i.e. an interaction between 2 discrete bodies) the result can be calculated exactly.
However, for 3 bodies and beyond one has to use a perturbative approach and you are left with a "remaining degree of freedom" whereby some of the outcomes of the interaction are not well defined and could take a range of values. So here we see an actual "uncertainty" inherent even in Newtonian physics.

Sorry for the short and useless post earlier.

[Nemmerle]

Just because we can't predict it doesn't mean it's random. If I see a light dancing about my wall apparently at random I'm not going to just assume it's random because I can't come up with a formula that explains it, I'm going to make damn sure there's not some little shit with a flashlight lurking outside my window.

[Showd0wN]

Thanks for actually going to read about 3 body problems rather than just completely disagreeing with me for no reason what-so-ever.

Nice. Also your anology missed the point entirely.

A remaining degree of freedom DEFINES variation/randomness in both local and global systems.

[NiteStryker]

Originally Posted by Nemmerle

I'm going to make damn sure there's not some little shit with a flashlight lurking outside my window.

How many times has that actually happened?

[Anlushac11]

And what if the light is still there and there is no little shit with a flashlight.