Science Fiction to Science Fact

Mostly Fact

On this page I have information on my published research, my favorite science sites, and the scientific facts that form the background of my science fiction stories. Down below are some of my 'mad science' answers.

Published Research

Bibliography: Some of my publications.
Tabletop Fusion Neutron Source: Here's some research news from my lab.
Antimatter-Catalyzed Hybrid Fission/Fusion Rocket Engine: This is a quick summary I wrote about an idea I heard presented at a conference in 1997. Could be an interesting form of space propulsion...
The Transactional Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics: This paper, written by John Cramer, is a summary of the most plausible alternate interpretation of Quantum Mechanics that I've seen; probably more plausible even than the "standard" Copenhagen Interpretation. It gets rid of wave-particle duality, solves the EPR paradox, gets rid of the one-particle-in-two-places-at-once business, and requires fewer assumptions than in standard QM. The only reason it's not more popular is that it requires limited backward-causation -- but you still can't send messages into the past.

Mad Science Links

I'm a member of the Mad Science Network, and I answer physics and astronomy questions sent in by curious people. Below are some of my previous answers, stored in the Mad Science archives. For more of my questions, go to the search page and type in 'Wharton'.

Can quantum uncertainty in velocity break the lightspeed barrier?

How much time elapses on Earth while in a relativistic spaceship?

Might the force of gravity between matter and antimatter be repulsive?

Why do electrons interfere with each other?

Can you get free energy from the zero-point field?

How does covalent bonding work?

Will the arrows of time reverse if the universe starts to contract?

Isn't quantum entanglement just a matter of not knowing hidden information?

Would Schrodinger's cat's consciousness act as an observer?

If the sun were a red star, what color would the sky be?

How is PV=NrT affected by relativistic speeds?

Would a working quantum computer lend weight the many world interpretation?

What is a quantum leap?

Science links from "The Callisto Incident"

If you want to know about Jupiter, you've come to the right place. Here's info about Jupiter's Magnetosphere. And as for Jupiter's fascinating satellites, here's a bunch of stuff organized by moon:

Did you know Io has active volcanoes and a cool Plasma Torus?

Europa

See pictures of Europa's wild surface, underground ocean, and freeway system.

Ganymede

Learn about Ganymede's surface, history, and potential colonization spot.

Callisto

The most enigmatic moon of Jupiter. Discover Callisto's mysterious craters and bizarre surface makeup.

Here's some good stuff on the origins of life. For example, what came before RNA?

Here's information on those mysterious prions.

Prions cause Mad Cow disease. There's more about them here.

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