[echo_dave] Well, I suppose we can get started, and let the laggers catch up whenever they can :-)

<mowma> What's your favorite star wars movie?

<jcavelos> From the time The Empire Strikes Back came out. . . until about a year ago, that was my favorite. . .

[echo_dave] Okay, the room's moderated, which means that only the "OP" folks have a "voice" in the room...

<jcavelos> I loved how dark it was and how everything seemed more ominous. Yet as I was working on the book and watching the movies over, I found the first movie was my new favorite.  It has such a perfect, self-contained story, and is just so wonderful.

[echo_dave] ...please refer any questions you might have to an OP (@echo_dave, @Fish or @Sabrina ...NOT @jcavelos or @jackbot) with a private message.    if you're not sure how to do this, just type in /msg @echo_dave before your question.

[echo_dave] So Jeanne, just to start off with, what's your scientific background?

<jcavelos> I studied astrophysics and math as an undergraduate and graduate student. . .  taught astronomy at Michigan State U. and Cornell U. . . . and worked in the Astronaut Training Division at NASA.

[echo_dave] How has response been to your book been thus far? It came out...April 28th, yes? How are sales going?

<jcavelos> I've been hearing good things from various bookstores. . . All signs seem good, though it's awfully early to tell. . .  I have gotten some really nice e-mails from people who have read the book. . . They seem to have enjoyed it.  I try to make the science fun and interesting. . .so you don't need to be a scientist to understand it.

[echo_dave] <mowma> Question : have you ever meet any of the actors from star wars?

<jcavelos> No. I stood on a manhole cover that Harrison Ford once stood on, though.   It was a big thrill.

<Sabrina> <Deak> many of the "science of" lit on the net is interesting but quite boring, did you write this with fans with "average" education in mind?

<jcavelos> Yes. I thought of my friends who are SW fans. . .  and thought about how I would explain things to them. . .  The whole point is to explore the SW universe in a way that's as exciting as the movies. . .   or *almost*, anyway. . .  And keep relating the science back to what we see in the films.

[echo_dave] <WarlordZsinj> What Star Wars novels have you read?

<jcavelos> I read all the early ones, the pre-Zahn ones. . .  Of the current bunch, I've kind of skimmed a few. . . no time to read them all the way through, I'm sorry to say. . .  But I had people helping me who had read all the books. . .  and would tell me where a book might contribute something useful to my discussion. . . But I focused mainly on the movies, because I think a lot more people have seen them. . .  than have read all the books.   I read the Star WArs Encyclopedia very thoroughly.

[echo_dave] Was there any concern in writing an "unauthorized" book?

<jcavelos> Not until recently (inside joke there) :). . .  Not really though. . .  I had written the Science of the X-Files, which was similar and unauthorized. . .  and it wasn't a problem. . . The first amendment allows writers to write commentary on the works of others. . .  so that's where my book falls. I certainly didn't want to infringe on . .  George Lucas's copyrights in any way or take anything away from him. . .  But he hasn't seemed interested in looking at the science in the movies. . . so this seemed a nice addition to what the official books do.

[echo_dave] "Recently", I assume, is referring to LFL's recent announcements regarding their crackdown on copyright infringements?

<jcavelos> Yes, they sued Little Brown for an unauthorized SW Compendium they published. . .  I took a look at that book, and felt it was a little risky from a legal standpoint. . .  though I'm no expert.

<Sabrina> <Deak> What is you Iguana's name? Any interesting, Star Wars related stories about him/her

<jcavelos> His name is Igmoe. . .  While writing the book, I decided he was a master of the Force. . .  since he could manipulate his environment to his liking. . .  He simply had me trained to do whatever he wanted.

[echo_dave] <mowma> Has anyone from Lucasfilm contacted you about the book?

<jcavelos> No. I'd like to think George Lucas would really enjoy it if he read it. . . but I think he probably has other things on his mind.

[echo_dave] <mowma> Question: to where can I sent my comments about the book to?

<jcavelos> You can contact me at jcavelos@empire.net . I'd enjoy hearing from you.

[echo_dave] How did you ever manage to find so many hardcore scientists that were Star Wars fans? <g> Was it hard getting the group synchronized for the discussions?

<jcavelos> I would call and interview the scientists who were the foremost experts on a particular subject. . .  like wormholes or artificial intelligence or alien life. . .  a lot of them just turned out to be SW fans, which was really neat. . .  That way we could discuss particular scenes in the movies and how likely they might be.

<Sabrina> <Deak> The Star Trek Television shows employ scientific cunsultants, do you think the SW movies would be better if GL did the same?

<jcavelos> Well, I would have said yes before writing this book, and I guess I still might say yes. . . But the truth is that George has done an incredible job of anticipating science. . . without having any consultants at all. . . When the first movie came out in 1977, it was at odds with the way scientists believed the universe to be. . . The scientists I knew at NASA would come into my office, see the picture of Han Solo over my desk. . . and say, "Oh, what an exciting, great movie! Too bad it's such horrible science fiction.". . . "There's no science to it whatsoever.". . . But in the 22 years since then, science has been catching up with George Lucas. . .  Now, the universe that he presents in those movies is much more compatible with . . .  the view scientists have of the universe. It's truly weird. . .  I think George may have used the Force to look ahead and see where science was going.

<Ann> Hi. I was just wondering if you found out anything during your research for the book that surprised you in any way.

<jcavelos> Many things. I guess the biggest one was that a scientific theory about a . . .  force that connects and controls all things exists, and that it is just as valid as alternative theories that happen to be more popular among scientists. . . This theory was put forward by David Bohm, a protege of Einstein's who died just a couple years ago. . . The force he proposed works on the quantum level. . . It offers an alternate explanation for why particles act the way they do,. . .Most scientists prefer a different explanation, just because it happened to come along first. . .But both the standard explanation and Bohm's predict the same things. . . so all the experimental results we've found support both theories equally. . .The neat thing about Bohm's force, which he called the quantum potential force. . . .is that it connects all things *simultaneously.*. . . This is exactly what we see in SW. . . . In the first movie, the Death Star blows up Alderaan. . . Light years away, on the Millennium Falcon, Obi-Wan seems to . . . instantaneously sense the deaths of all those people. . .This obviously violates the principle of locality. A disturbance in the Force. . .shoudn't be able to travel faster than the speed of light, yet it does. . .Similarly, on the quantum level--the level of particles like electrons. . . particles far apart can sometimes seem to be in instantaneous communication. . .Bohm invented the quantum potential force to explain this. ..The one problem with using Bohm's theory to explain *the* Force. . .is that it controls all things, including us. So *we* can't control *it.*. . .To go in that direction, we need a different theory.

[echo_dave] Do you think that applying all this science to a mystical creation like Star Wars ruins anything...or does it add to it?

<jcavelos> Some of my friends who are SW fans were worried that I would ruin the movies. . .some of them begged me not to talk about the Force, at least. . .they were sure there was no scientific basis to it and that I would burst their bubble.But that's not my intention at all. I don't want my bubble burst either. . .I love exploring the possibilities. . .and the truth is, there are some fascinating possibilities where science meets the unknown or mystical. . .And that's what I discuss in the book. . . .There are many scientists who believe in paranormal phenomena and are trying. . .to find evidence of these phenomena in the lab. . .I talk about that in the book. I was quite fascinated with the experiements. . . though I think we have a ways to go before we have any airtight evidence. There's a lot we don't understand, though. . . so saying anything is impossible today isn't a good idea. . .you end up explaining how it can be done tomorrow.

<Sabrina> <ArtyEwok> Question: Did you contribute at all to the 'Science of Star Wars' show for the Canadian Discovery channel? :)

<jcavelos> No, I didn't even know that existed. Could have made life a lot easier for me! :) I believe I'm going to be interviewed for the U.S. Discovery Channel, though.

[echo_dave] ...have you seen the Canadian Discovery Channel's "Realities Behind the Myth" website?

<jcavelos> No. What is it?

[echo_dave] It's remarkably similar to your own work. Just wondering. They claim no knowledge of you :-)  We have an interview with the creators live on Echo Station now...check it out after the chat's over   We'll talk later <g> Sabrina, go ahead with the next question, sorry.

<jcavelos> I wonder if they've been clairvoyantly spying on me!  Just like Yoda, that peeping Jedi, watching Luke as he grew up.

<Sabrina> <Deak> could you "briefly" explain how its possible to travel above the speed of light, like you would in the novel?

<jcavelos> My book isn't a novel. . . but here goes. . . Science fiction fans have been very frustrated by this idea that we can't travel. . . at the speed of light, which was established by Einstein. . .  But what scientists have realized is that we don't have to speed through space. . . at faster than the speed of light . . instead, we *manipulate* space to make the trip shorter, creating shortcuts or other clever devices. . . One possible method of rapid interstellar travel, then, is to create a wormhole. . . A wormhole is a tunnel-like shortcut from one point to another. . . . Imagine three-dimensional space as having only two dimensions,, like a sheet. . . Imagine the sheet to be stretchy, like a trampoline. . . Any mass can distort space. . . like a bowling ball put on the trampoline. . . We call that distortion gravity. . . If you step onto the trampoline, you will slide down the depression toward the bowling ball. . . similarly, if you jump out of a plane at 20000 feet, you will fall toward the massive Earth. . So space won't be a flat sheet, but will have a lot of curves and distortions in it. . . from all the masses in it. So we can imagine space has a large-scale curve.. . like a bedsheet hanging over a clothesline, with half on each side. . We can then imagine a really massive object on one side, creating a depression inward. . . And another massive object on the other side of the clothesline, inward. . .  Theoretically, these two depressions could touch and merge. . . creating a tunnel from one side of the sheet to the other. . . This tunnel is not in normal space, since normal space is just the sheet. . . The tunnel is in additional dimensions. . . These additional dimensions are called hyperspace. . . Without the tunnel, to get from one depression to the other. . . You have to go al lthe way up and over the clothesline. . . we'd think of this as a straight line. . . Yet with the tunnel, you now have a really quick shortcut from one point to the other. . .  So when Han makes the "jump to hyperspace," he may very well. . . be creating a wormhole from where he is to where he wants to go, and then zipping through it.

<jcavelos> Should I shut up now?

[echo_dave] LOL! No, no...you're doing great! <g> We were just commenting that your answers are SO much better...than the usual "Yes...GA" we usually get <G>

[echo_dave] <Deak> as a scientist do you give parascience experiments any credit (like those taking place at The University of Edinburgh) considering their murky past?

<jcavelos> I give them a *little* credit. . . One of the scientists I interviewed said a very interesting thing. . . he said you have to keep an open mind in two directions--you have to be. . . open to the possibility that something might be true, but you also. . have to be open to the possibility that something might not be true.. . This is what's lacking in paranormal research. . All the experimenters are believers, and so they often seem to be subconsciously biasing the results, or misinterpreting them. . . to validate their beliefs. . . On the other hand, some skeptics are *positive* these abilities do not exist. . . so no matter what experiments are performed or evidence found, they discount it without looking at it. . . because it simply *must* be wrong. . .  I tried to keep an open mind in two directions as I did this research. . . What I found was that all of the paranormal experiments seemed to be . . .   flawed or at least *possibly* flawed, and so the results were thrown into doubt. . .  A lot of the procedures seem sloppy to me. But I do think the research. . . should continue, and should be much more rigorous. . . It would help if they'd avoid the more wacky topics, like. . . why do slot machines tend to give huge payouts during the full moon?. . .  can humans affect the growth of algae with their minds? . . .  Do cockroaches have psychokinetic powers?. . .

<jcavelos> I sort of want to believe that last one. . . since that would explain why I can never get my foot slammed down. . .  onto one fast enough.

[echo_dave] <Rob> just as a comment on this line of thought (wormholes): what happens if another dimension gets merged as well, say, time, what happens then?

<jcavelos> Well, space and time are connected in a single space-time continuum, as Einstein discovered. . . so wormholes not only may connect two distant places in space. . .  they may also connect two distant places in time. . . Some scientists believe these are our best possibility for time travel. . . And there really is not difference, in this sense, between space and time,. . . so if we can make wormholes, we may very well be able to travel in time.

[echo_dave] <Rob> comment: but then also what about the possibility in SW of running into planet's? is that possible with this worm hole theory?

<jcavelos> I've read that in a number of science fiction novels. . . but remember the wormhole is not in normal space. . . so I don't think we'd have that problem at all. . .  If there were other massive objects in the area. . . my thought is that they would create a network of tunnels that might intersect. . . you can't run into a mass in hyperspace. . . because the mass itself is in normal space.   It kind of twists your brain a little.  Mine, anyway.

<Sabrina> <Deak> Did a scientist or expert ever refuse to talk to you because of the subject matter?

<jcavelos> Some of them were very busy and so we had trouble hooking up. . .  the subject matter being Star Wars but no one was opposed to discussing SW. . .  I think that shows a huge change in attitude toward science fiction in the last 20 years. . .  The only scientist who got upset with me was one working on paranormal stuff. .  because I showed him a draft of the section discussing his work. . .  and I had included possible sources of error, which he objected to. Most of the scientists were very excited to be included in a discussion of something they loved so much.

[echo_dave] Wow...my head's shaking from all this heavy stuff...let's get something light <g>:  you have a number of The Phantom Menace references in your book, and yet even you say you had little source material to work with.   How hard was it finding TPM material to glean info from?

<jcavelos> Well, websites such as your own were very helpful. . .  Also, I watched the first trailer over and over, frame by frame. . .   many times (with a good excuse). . .  read as much as I could. . . and then I had some "deep throat" sources that told me some classified info. . . So I gathered as much as I could, since I wanted the book to be as up-to-date as possible.

[echo_dave] <Rob> comment: does that discount these types of worm holes from SW since they don't appear to exist in real life?

<jcavelos> I'm not sure I understand your question. . . We haven't yet detected any wormholes. . . though theoretically they should exist. . . scientists believe that wormholes form only transiently, for a fraction of a second to short to be detected. . .

[echo_dave] Okay, I'm going to break my own rule here, and voice Rob, since he claims a need to explain his question <g>

<jcavelos> Also, they believe wormholes are very, very small, smaller than atoms. . . which would make them hard to fit through. Yet scientists have come up with theoretical ways to make wormholes stable over longer periods. . .and perhaps to enlarge them to a size we can use.

<Rob> what i mean is that in SW, they (pilots) often claim that they have to plot careful courses to avoid the "mass shadows" of planets

<jcavelos> I believe that is untrue--specifically, that line Han Solo has. . . about bouncing too close to a supernova. . . Perhaps traveling through hyperspace *is* like dusting crops. . .  Or maybe we don't have a full understanding of this yet.

<Rob> that's probly the most reasonable answer <g>

<jcavelos> Anyway, the idea we have of how to create stable wormholes. . .  is to use exotic matter. . .  This stuff, again, should theoretically exist, and we have indications that it does. . .  but we don't yet have any in a jar. . .  Exotic matter is matter with negative mass. . .  which means that unlike regular mass, which attracts other mass, exotic matter repels other mass. . .   This is a really cool thing. It would then repel the walls of the wormhole, . . .   which would naturally tend to collapse inward. . . holding it open. It might even enlarge the wormhole. . . This stuff with negative mass can also explain how the various. . speeders work. If your speeder weighs 500 pounds, and you put minus 500 pounds of exotic matter into it. . .  it will be weightless, and will stay at whatever height you leave it. . .

[echo_dave] Jeanne> so when do you plan on seeing TPM? ...and will your local theater let Igmoe in? <g>

<jcavelos> I've got to see it on opening day, though I hope I can manage that while only standing in line a couple hours. . .ha ha. . .   Some of my best SW memories are of standing in line. . the people I met, and cheering with the other fans during the movies. . .  Igmoe's going to have to wait for the video.

[echo_dave] <Deak> I have heard a theory stateing a Hyperdrive's main function is to create a quantum anomoly to move the object (starship) to move beyond the speed of light. Is this at all plausable?

<jcavelos> Well, the rule is that nothing can travel *at* the speed of light. . . people often misunderstand this and think it means nothing can travel *faster* than the speed of light. . . That's not what it means. But if we start off slower, and we can't go *at* the speed of light, then we can never get faster. .   But if you create some sort of uncertainty or "anomaly" about the speed, you might be able to sort of fudge. . .  your way over the barrier. I think an electron has a slim chance of doing this. . . .  I think a space ship really has none. . .  but then again, never say never.

<Sabrina> Well, I must leave, A pleasure talking to you Jeanne :)

[echo_dave] Well Jeanne, I don't want to keep you any longer than we had you scheduled for, and we're about out of time...

<jcavelos> Thanks.  I really enjoyed talking with everyone.

[echo_dave] I just wanted to say thanks for coming BACK after that last debacle <g>, and I am VERY pleased with how this chat turned out.

<jcavelos> People can visit my website at http://www.sff.net/people/jcavelos

[echo_dave] Hopefully now everyone's got an excuse to run out and pick up the book immediately!

<jcavelos> It has pix of Igmoe and excerpts from the book. . .

<jcavelos> Thanks for having me again.

[echo_dave] ...and, of course, they can buy it right from http://www.echostation.com   <g>

[echo_dave] Not a problem Jeanne - thanks for coming.

<jcavelos> Why buy it anywhere else?

[echo_dave] I'll drop you a URL with that Canadian site's address...actually, here: http://www.exn.ca/starwars/

<jcavelos> Great, I'd like to see it.

[echo_dave] That's them. ...and there's an interview with them live on Echo...we asked about you specifically <g>

[echo_dave] they disavowed any knowledge <g>

<Deak> thanks for coming

<jcavelos> We have our ways of getting to the truth. . .

<jcavelos> Thanks to everyone. Igmoe says good night.

[echo_dave] Thanks again for stopping by, and we'll have the transcript live at http://www.echostation.com later this evening if you want a copy...or I can email one to you.

<Rob> mind if i ask what your e-mail address was again, Jeanne?

<Deak> excellent answers.... deffinantly going to get the book goodnight

<jcavelos> jcavelos@empire.net

* Rob has some extra questions/comments that didn't quite make it in <g>

<BobaBrett> heh

[echo_dave] Rob> Buy the book...odds are good the answers are in there <g>

[echo_dave] My head's STILL expanding from reading it, and I finished it over two weeks ago <g>

<Ann> I guess I'll have to wait for it to come out over here... :(

<jcavelos> Impressive. . . most impressive.

<Rob> echo_dave: i'm kinda sorta broke ;)

<jcavelos> Good night, everyone.

[echo_dave] G'night Jeanne! Thanks again!

[echo_dave] G'night Igmoe! <g>

<jcavelos> If you can e-mail the transcript, that would be great to have.

<Deak> Igmoe = Iguana?

<Ann> goodnight Jeanne

<jcavelos> Igmoe growls about how he would like to eat Tokyo and goes back to sleep.

<Bigg> bye

<jcavelos> bye

[echo_dave] Jeanne> I'll get it out to you tonight :-)

[echo_dave] G'night!