A Cylinder of Sun

[livius drusus]

Have you ever heard of an upper sun pillar (http://www.bbc.co.uk/cornwall/weather/uppersunpillar.shtml)? Isn't she lovely?

http://www.freethought-forum.com/images/icecrystal.jpg

[Goliath]

Wow, that is cool...it reminds me of when I was a kid and naively wondered why suns and planets were always roughly spherical. I wondered if there weren't cylindrical suns and bowl-shaped planets out there somewhere...

[wade-w]

Wow, that is cool...it reminds me of when I was a kid and naively wondered why suns and planets were always roughly spherical. I wondered if there weren't cylindrical suns and bowl-shaped planets out there somewhere...

Sounds like you should have been a topologist, instead of an algebraist!

That's a beautiful pic, livius!

[livius drusus]

Wow, that is cool...it reminds me of when I was a kid and naively wondered why suns and planets were always roughly spherical. I wondered if there weren't cylindrical suns and bowl-shaped planets out there somewhere...

Me too! Star Trek counfounded me: all those wacky colored planets, but every one of them perfectly spherical. Have you read Ringworld, by any chance?

[livius drusus]

Sounds like you should have been a topologist, instead of an algebraist!

Well until he gets that article done, I can't say that he isn't a topologist. ;)

That's a beautiful pic, livius!

Isn't it, though? Did you see the sun rising over the horizon pic in the article? The pillar is smaller but it's still just gorgeous.

[Goliath]

Sounds like you should have been a topologist, instead of an algebraist!


LOL. If I were a topologist, then it wouldn't matter if the sun were cylindrical or spherical, since I wouldn't be able to tell the difference. :D

Topology was never my strong suit in graduate school. It took a lot of effort for me to wrap my head around it (category theory and homological algebra were even worse in that regard).

However, one of the projects that I'm puttering around with (and that I can't seem to make good headway on) is an application of Point Set Topology to Factorization Theory.

[Goliath]

Have you read Ringworld, by any chance?

I haven't, but I used to know someone who did, and I've seen some of the animated Ringworld series. It looked pretty good, and I've been meaning to read the books, but I haven't gotten around to it, yet (*sigh* the story of my life....)

[wade-w]

LOL. If I were a topologist, then it wouldn't matter if the sun were cylindrical or spherical, since I wouldn't be able to tell the difference. :D

Topology was never my strong suit in graduate school. It took a lot of effort for me to wrap my head around it (category theory and homological algebra were even worse in that regard).

However, one of the projects that I'm puttering around with (and that I can't seem to make good headway on) is an application of Point Set Topology to Factorization Theory.

The closest I've ever come to studying Topology is the brief intro to Point Set Topology you get in Advanced Calculus. I found that little bit to be fascinating though. I'd like to hear some more about your idea though.

I've always been partial to the more non-intuitive results of mathematics, and ideas like Mobius Strips and Klein Bottles had me enthralled with the thought of someday taking Topology. Though I must admit that the Banach-Tarski Paradox tops both of them for being a mind bender!

[wade-w]

Well until he gets that article done, I can't say that he isn't a topologist. ;)


Speaking of that article, please check your PM's, Goliath.

[freemonkey]

Did you see the sun rising over the horizon pic in the article? The pillar is smaller but it's still just gorgeous.
That is so beautiful! Thanks for sharing it.

[Albion]

Have you read Ringworld, by any chance?

I've read Discworld...

[Johnny Pneumatic]

Have you read Ringworld, by any chance?

I'm just about to finish it. It's kind of a shame there probably will never be a material strong enough to actually make a real one. The matter would need to be about as strong as the strong nuclear force or it'd tear itself apart with its own inertia. :kickcan:

[livius drusus]

Have you read Ringworld, by any chance?

I'm just about to finish it. It's kind of a shame there probably will never be a material strong enough to actually make a real one. The matter would need to be about as strong as the strong nuclear force or it'd tear itself apart with its own inertia. :kickcan:

He he... For some reason, I find the combination of excellent science nerdery and that smilie thoroughly charming.

[JoeP]

Not to mention SkepticJ's thoroughly charming avatar!

[Ymir's blood]

Hmmm......

http://web.infoave.net/~pitshade/icons/icecrystal.jpg

[livius drusus]

Um... I don't get it. :tumble:

[Dingfod]

The eye of Sauron?

[livius drusus]

I knew I'd be embarassed. :doh:

[Ymir's blood]

Um... I don't get it. :tumble:
:deepsigh:

[Ymir's blood]

The eye of Sauron?
Yeah.

[livius drusus]

It's not you; it's me. :deepsigh: