maff91@yahoo.com (maff) wrote in message news:<18510aff.0406171307.693a2d8f@posting.google.com>...

In the twinkling of an ion
http://www.economist.com/science/displayStory.cfm?story_id=2765901

Jun 17th 2004
From The Economist print edition


Two groups have succeeded in teleporting quantum states in atoms

SOME ideas won't go away. Ever since the writers of Star Trek chose,
as an economy measure, to have their characters beam down to the
surfaces of planets using a cheap special-effects trick, rather than
going to the expense of mocking up and filming a shuttle craft,
scientists and sci-fi nuts have been fascinated by the idea of
teleportation.

teleportation
http://news.google.com/news?q=teleportation&num=100&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=gn

http://www.google.com/search?q=teleportation&num=100&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&tab=nw&sa=N

http://groups.google.com/groups?as_q=teleportation&safe=images&ie=UTF-8&as_scoring=d&lr=&num=100&hl=en

quantum entanglement
http://news.google.com/news?q=%20%22quantum%20entanglement%22&num=100&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=gn

http://www.google.com/search?q=%22quantum+entanglement%22&num=100&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&tab=nw&sa=N

http://groups.google.com/groups?as_epq=quantum%20entanglement&safe=images&ie=UTF-8&as_scoring=d&lr=&num=100&hl=en

Rainer Blatt
http://news.google.com/news?q=%20%22Rainer%20Blatt%22&num=100&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=gn

http://www.google.com/search?q=%22Rainer+Blatt%22&num=100&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&tab=nw&sa=N

http://groups.google.com/groups?as_epq=Rainer%20Blatt&safe=images&ie=UTF-8&as_scoring=d&lr=&num=100&hl=en

David Wineland
http://news.google.com/news?q=%20%22David%20Wineland%22&num=100&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=gn

http://www.google.com/search?q=%22David+Wineland%22&num=100&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&tab=nw&sa=N

http://groups.google.com/groups?as_epq=David%20Wineland&safe=images&ie=UTF-8&as_scoring=d&lr=&num=100&hl=en

You see, this is exactly how science gets itself in trouble.

Scientists used to complain that Star Trek's transporter or anything
like it was a pure fantasy. Couldn't happen, never, ever, ever! The
Physical laws of the universe won't permit it!... and now, they're
working on it, somewhat successfully.

This is at the heart of the Creationist case to the public. If science
can be so wrong that it routinely disproves what it passionately
asserted previously, then why should anyone accept as permanent and
unchanging anything that scientists assert? It can be a convincng
argument!

It's not like they could have used an ounce of tact and said, "Star
Trek is science fiction. We may be able to have that sort of
transportation, someday. Currently, we see no way to create such
technology.". That was the truth, but that's not what they said. They
were unwilling to accept the possibility, because it challenged the
science of the time, even though, they they science is always
changing.

I wonder, could they ever bring themselves to admit, "The Bible and
other holy texts are very nice examples of traditional wisdom. They
may reflect some things beyond the scope and interest of science.
Currenty, we find nothing in them that effectively modifies the
advancement of technology". No, too tactful... Couldn't happen, never,
ever, ever.

JTG 6/18/04

Scientists used to complain that Star Trek's transporter or anything
like it was a pure fantasy. Couldn't happen, never, ever, ever! The
Physical laws of the universe won't permit it!... and now, they're
working on it, somewhat successfully.

maff wrote:

Two groups have succeeded in teleporting quantum states in atoms

Stuff that. I want a holodeck!