Author: Vikash Kodati

Founder at Godel Space | Space Tech Innovator | Driving Real-Time Geospatial Insights | Angel Investor in Space and Emerging Tech

Mathematicians Chase Moonshine’s Shadow

I must say this is by far the exciting article I came across so far. Filled with hope and proof. It combined some of the most important fields of study, in one shot: Number Theory, Algebra, String Theory, Escher’s Tessellation, Ramanujam’s Mock Theta functions and Black holes (as structures in space time)

The article talks about a mysterious bridge between number theory and algebra (monster group) in the form of string theory. It was thrilling to read about the 24 structures (also the number of dimensions string theory deals with) mysterious correspondences between the dimensions of a symmetry group on the one hand, and the coefficients of a special j-function on the other — referred to as “moonshine”. The awe inspiring moment was when I learnt that the j-function belongs to a special class of functions whose graphs have repeating patterns similar to M. C. Escher’s tessellation of a disk with angels and devils and that the coefficients of this function are a form of the 17 mock theta functions discovered by Ramanujam.

That was about the proved result. The conjectural part is connection between moonshine and quantum gravity that could unite General theory of relativity and quantum mechanics. It further goes to say that the corresponding String theory model could be constructed such that 194 categories of elements in the monster group correspond to 194 types of black holes. I guess the other models explain the parallel universes out there….

Yes still trying to sync in. The idea is so far fetched that the scientists themselves called it “Moonshine” as discussed in the article.

“Math is all about building bridges where on one side you see more clearly than on the other” –Duncan

Escher’s Tessellation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWVFIz4f5qk

Ramanujam’s mock theta functions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJsiFJ9_ObQ

The black hole’s interior is protected by an armour of computational complexity

I believe when the black hole information paradox problem when viewed from this vantage point offers a fresh perspective, that the laws pf physics might actually be upheld by computational complexity — which is defined entirely in terms of information. The article also talks about how this might help understand quantum entanglement.

Scott Aaronson puts it, “the black hole’s interior is protected by an armour of computational complexity” in his book Quantum Computing: http://www.amazon.com/Quantum-Computing-since-Democritus-Aaronson/dp/0521199565
I could not put this book down once I started reading. Highly recommended for a reader who finds it fun to put different pieces together and is not afraid of the abstract. This book is something I always wished to have, one place with a logical string of reasoning end to end w/o the technical rigor (which can be filled in as needed)

It is exciting to see computational complexity as fundamental as thermodynamics (entropy) acting as a tool to help solve problems in multiple disciplines. I had like to see how the observer plays a role in this equation as at the end of the day, it is us interpreting the event or computing the complexity via our mind through our senses.

Theoretical physics: Complexity on the horizon

Will you find your place in the Universe?

“I believe that our species will not last long. It does not seem to be made of the stuff that has allowed the turtle, for example to continue to exist more or less unchanged for hundreds of millions of years; for hundreds of times longer, that is, than we have even been in existence. We belong to a short-lived genus of species. All of our cousins are already extinct. What’s more, we do damage. There are frontiers where we are learning, and our desire for knowledge burns. They are in the most minute reaches of the fabric of space, at the origins of the cosmos, in the nature of time, in the phenomenon of black holes, and in the workings of our own thought processes. Here, on the edge of what we know, in contact with the ocean of the unknown, shines the mystery and the beauty of the world. And it’s breathtaking.”

Seven brief lessons on Physics

 

How to turn light into matter after 80-year quest

For anything traveling at or near the speed of light, time slows down, photon traveling at the speed of time imply that there is no time that elapses for them. Lets just think about that for a min… For us (conscious human beings) we see light traveling for eons before it reaches our eye but for the photon, this time is zero… it is absorbed the moment it is emitted… Now combined with the below result, a photon converts into matter giving it (electron and positron) mass and time. A timeless particle gives rise to one that now has the concept of time because electrons do not travel at the speed of photons.

Scientists discover how to turn light into matter after 80-year quest

National Mathematician Day

On this date in 1887 mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan was born in Erode, Tamil Nadu, India. Ramanujan had nearly no formal training in mathematics and was largely self-taught until he was a teenager. As an adult his work quickly gained attention from other Indian mathematicians who spread his work to Europe. He independently proved several theorems in a number of mathematical subjects and also produced many new theorems. He moved to England in 1914 and continued to publish on a wide range of topics and much of his work has been widely influential for his unique approaches to even already established proofs.

National Mathematics Day: Remembering the genius Srinivasa Ramanujan!

 

Renaissance Florence Was a Better Model for Innovation than Silicon Valley Is

Excellent point of view backed with data. I believe its a way of life. To inculcate this kind of lifestyle and values organically, would take a generation to live through it. The other possibility is to rebuild in an entirely new way after a calamity (as you indicated in the article). I personally like this way of life and was excited when you said “demanded that leadership change every few months” to keep the creativity and innovation intact.

Renaissance Florence Was a Better Model for Innovation than Silicon Valley Is

 

Ligo

Brace for the news this THUR (2/11/16). Whatever the outcome, it is set to be a milestone on the cosmic calendar. It has been 100 years since Einstein published his General Theory of Relativity that married Gravity to Space-Time. LIGO has measured the last of the predictions made by this theory, ie, the presence of ripples in space-time caused by rapidly spinning objects like pulsars, 2 star systems etc.. Detecting a gravitational wave is like noticing the Milky Way — which is about 100,000 light-years wide — has stretched or shrunk by the width of a pencil eraser.

More about Logo

Pros and Cons of modelling a ready only query system with Multiple databases vs Multiple schemas?

Pros and Cons of modelling a ready only query system with Multiple databases vs Multiple schemas?

I have the following scenario where an SQL Server database (D1) is being replicated to D1_p (on-premise SQL Server). I have another on-premise oracle database (D2) being replicated to D2_p (on-premise SQL Server). I am trying to understand the pros and cons of setting up D1_p and D2_p on two separate DB servers vs a single SQL Server database and have 2 separate schemas on it. Would love to hear your thoughts on the same. Also please note that there is a constant sync happening in an asynchronous manner between (D1 and D1_p via SQL Log Shipping) and (D2 and D2_p via Golden Gate).

Piers Morgan’s interviewing Justice Scalia

 Piers Morgan’s interviewing Justice Scalia back in 2012. I liked how openly people at this level spoke their mind. My view of the politicians has been very different and was expecting similar behavior but it was delightful to hear his point of views and how others were opening disagreeing (respectfully or not in a few cases) eventually arriving at a reasonable conclusion. I noticed there are many parallels between the Justice process and what we do in our daily lives, primarily at work.  Although not to the same rigor we all employ similar logical arguments to arrive at common ground, understand the different types of motivations of people, resolve conflicts and choose a direction to move on based on principles, values and sound arguments/reasoning of the group involved.
I then realized all these, be it, Justice system, Corporate work etc… are all instances or models of the generic Formal Systems. At this abstraction its a well known result how rigorous the system is in arriving at decisions but also cursed by Godel’s Incompleteness Theorems where a system of this complexity cannot be both consistent and complete at the same time. It does not end here. The system may not be able to prove all things possible. Although gloomy that is the nature of this existence. That is the computational limitation of our consciousness. I cant help but to think that may be this is how one attains realization, when one eventually computes one’s truth and becomes ready for another level of existence …. in a whole hierarchy of existences each with their own computational power more like DFA/NFA (regular expressions) < Pushdown automata (Context Free) < eventually a turing machines. (Unrestricted).

Pi Day

Happy Pi Day 2016.
Let’s spare a few moments for Ramanujams work on pi on this auspicious day! He gave a practical way of calculating “pi” using a ruler and compass only. It was quite an achievement of those times when people thought circles and spheres (involving pi) symbolized heaven and the descent of the spirit to the material plane. The squares and cubes symbolized the lifting up of material perfection to the divine. Pi is thought to have this transcending quality!