The Science Masquerade
The Science Masquerade
Original Text
Pier Giorgio Di Cicco, Virgin Science: Hunting Holistic Paradigms (Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1986): 45.
2It is an elegant theory. Elegance involving a
4a deathly choice of words. Womb-holes might have been
5a choicer scientific usage.
6But that would have been too transparent, even though
7the essence of quantum foam is navigation between
10touches on the mechanistic level.
11Mathematics is duel-istic finesse.
12Zero is a truce, with evocations of
13the divine. Welcome to the world. A sphere with
14triangles in it.
15There isn't a hope in hell, known as
Notes
1] Quantum foam: phrase coined by John Archibald Wheeler, describing the popping of fundamental particles in and out of existence in a vacuum, a phenomenon associated with the idea of multiple dimensions. Back to Line
3] Worm-holes: (speculative) tunnels linking widely separated regions of the universe. Back to Line
8] Black holes: regions of matter so dense that no light can escape their gravity. white holes: "a celestial object which expands outwards from a space-time singularity emitting energy, in the manner of a time-reversed black hole" (OED, "white," a., 11e). Back to Line
9] virtual particles: the particles in quantum foam. Back to Line
16] object differentiation: a psychoanalytic term, the self-conscious perception of oneself as an identity separate from other things and beings. Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1986
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2003
Rhyme
Special Copyright
Copyright Pier Giorgio Di Cicco 1986