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The four major disciplines propelling our students and our society forward; all about education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Fumfer Physics 10: Algorithms, Emergence, and the Universe
In this dialogue, Scott Douglas Jacobsen and Rick Rosner debate whether algorithms adequately describe the universe. Jacobsen begins with the standard definition of an algorithm as a step-by-step, finite process like a recipe. Rosner counters that the universe does not follow strict routines but operates through emergence—patterns forming from possibility rather than predetermined rules. They compare laws of physics to contours shaped by statistical dynamics and symmetry, not rigid instructions. Rosner emphasizes counting numbers as emergent from discrete macro objects, while quantum systems can blur definitions. Their exchange highlights the tension between algorithmic order and emergent complexity in nature.
By Scott Douglas Jacobsen4 months ago in Education
Fumfer Physics 9: Algorithms, Emergence, and the Nature of Physical Reality
Scott Douglas Jacobsen asked Rick Rosner whether distinguishing between algorithmic and non-algorithmic processes is meaningful in physics and cosmology. Rosner rejected the primacy of algorithms, arguing that computation is linear while associative information is multidimensional, shaped by correlations among variables. He described the universe as compressing vast possibilities into efficient three-dimensional structures, with protons, electrons, and neutrons transmitting information. For Rosner, physical reality emerges from principles of efficiency and existence rather than fixed step-by-step rules. Algorithms can be imposed retroactively as explanatory frameworks, but they miss the improvisational, self-organizing nature of the cosmos. Emergence, not recipes, defines reality’s unfolding.
By Scott Douglas Jacobsen4 months ago in Education
“Is Spacetime Emergent? New Paper Uses Gödel, Tarski & Chaitin to Challenge Simulation Hypothesis”
Reference: Faizal, M., Krauss, L. M., Shabir, A., & Marino, F. (2025). Consequences of Undecidability in Physics on the Theory of Everything. Journal of Holography Applications in Physics, 5(2), 10–21. doi:10.22128/jhap.2025.1024.1118
By Scott Douglas Jacobsen4 months ago in Education
Fumfer Physics 6: Digital Physics, Information, and Consciousness
Scott Douglas Jacobsen and Rick Rosner delve into digital physics, questioning whether the universe is computational or merely permits computation. Jacobsen frames reality through objects, processes, and operators, while Rosner argues the universe encodes information imprecisely at macro scales rather than through strict quantum events. They contrast Wheeler’s “it from bit” with a sloppier, associative model of information. The dialogue examines consciousness as either emergent information structure or illusion, echoing behaviorism’s “black box.” They also discuss jargon, popularization, and language in science and fiction, highlighting the tension between accessibility and the invention of new terms for emerging concepts.
By Scott Douglas Jacobsen4 months ago in Education
Fumfer Physics 5: From Scholastic Thought to Claude Shannon
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: The Latin informatio originally meant giving form or shape—" to give form to something." Scholastic thinkers adapted it to mean the soul being informed or "shaped" by truth or intellect. Medieval scholasticism, which dominated Europe from approximately 1100 to 1700, combined Christian theology and classical philosophy. Aristotle's doctrine of hylomorphism holds that every physical thing is a compound of matter (the substrate) and form (the actuality or organization). In scholastic thought, the soul was often seen as the substantial form of a living body—what makes a body alive.
By Scott Douglas Jacobsen4 months ago in Education
Turn Your Phone Into a Profit Machine: A Look at the Mobile Money System
In our digitally connected world, the quest for a flexible income stream is a common goal. Many of us spend significant time on our smartphones, leading to a natural question: can this device be a tool for earning, not just spending? This is the core promise of programs like the Mobile Money System, which has garnered attention for its straightforward approach to online income.
By Epic Vibes4 months ago in Education
7 Unexpected Discoveries of Online Education, You Didn't Know . AI-Generated.
7 Unexpected Discoveries of Online Education, You Didn't Know Explore 7 unexpected discoveries of online education beyond flexibility and cost savings. See how online learning is changing the face of education in 2025 and beyond.
By buzz N value4 months ago in Education
Fumfer Physics 4: The Emergence and Embodiment of Time
In this Fumfer Physics dialogue, Scott Douglas Jacobsen and Rick Rosner explore the layered nature of time. Jacobsen frames three concepts: time at quantum scales where it appears quasi-atemporal, the emergent unfolding of objective cosmic time, and the subjective, often dilatory, human experience of time. Rosner explains time as embodied in the differentiation of matter and the creation of information, comparing it to the sequential turning of pages in a book. He argues that the universe defines itself through particle interactions and their cumulative history, with the total information constrained by matter content, expansion, and entropy reservoirs.
By Scott Douglas Jacobsen4 months ago in Education
The Unseen Challenges of Modern Education That Might Be Holding You Back . AI-Generated.
The Unseen Challenges of Modern Education That Might Be Holding You Back Normal school: the concealed challenges of contemporary education that could be hindering your potencial. Know what's broken, the consequences of the broken system, and some practical solutions that could improve your learning experience.
By buzz N value4 months ago in Education
The Fundamentals of Corrosion
Corrosion is the spontaneous tendency of metals to revert to lower-energy, oxidized states. This tendency provides the thermodynamic driving force for corrosion; whether corrosion actually proceeds—and how fast—depends on kinetics and environment. Engineers need a firm grip on both to select materials, design protection, and predict service life.
By Sayed Zewayed4 months ago in Education
Fumfer Physics 3: Informational Cosmology & Consciousness
Rick Rosner: If we're going to do Fumfer for Physics, let me quickly lay out the principles of informational cosmology. Scott Douglas Jacobsen: What principles define informational cosmology? The guiding idea is that the universe processes information, and the patterns by which it does so show strong, useful parallels with how we encode, store, and transform information. Follow that line and the question of consciousness becomes unavoidable—what it is, how it relates to information, and whether an informational ontology can make sense of subjective experience.
By Scott Douglas Jacobsen4 months ago in Education
