Facts Definition and 119 Threads

A fact is an occurrence in the real world. The usual test for a statement of fact is verifiability—that is whether it can be demonstrated to correspond to experience. Standard reference works are often used to check facts. Scientific facts are verified by repeatable careful observation or measurement by experiments or other means.
For example, "This sentence contains words." accurately describes a linguistic fact, and "The sun is a star" accurately describes an astronomical fact. Further, "Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States" and "Abraham Lincoln was assassinated" both accurately describe historical facts. Generally speaking, facts are independent of belief and of knowledge.

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  1. D

    Nuclear thread par excellence

    TL;DR Summary: The thread: Can Any Country Achieve Net Zero Without Nuclear? Reference: https://www.physicsforums.com/forums/nuclear-engineering.106/ As new OP and ignorant of current nuclear technology's science and politics, the discussion in the Australia nuclear power thread was...
  2. N

    I Can interpretation-dependent facts be derived from the axioms?

    In the thread https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/post-selection-pre-existing-correlations-or-action-at-a-distance.1049354/, @PeterDonis claims that a certain mathematical derivation from the basic axioms of QM is an interpretation-dependent proposition. I'm referring to post #54 here and this...
  3. A

    Facts about waves - UK BMAT exam question

    To me, they all look incorrect. Oh hang on. Ultrasonic waves. I misread that. It's no 6 then.
  4. T

    Truth and facts about soy, soy products and tofu (some questions)

    Hi, it's been a while since I have posted, hope you all are doing good. Just recently someone on the net mentioned to me the claim that soy and tofu really is bad for men's penises, sex organs, labido as well as sex drive has been debunked. Iv'e seen articals on the net saying it does or it...
  5. jedishrfu

    Are You Prepared for a Bear Encounter?

    A good article on bear encounters and what to do when they occur: https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/bear-encounters-prevent-attacks-wellness/
  6. T

    Truth and facts about the MBTI Meyers-Briggs test/s (part 2)

    Hi again all. I asked these questions because I want to balance out all my mbti functions making them all 100% in all areas of the mind/brain or as best as each function will get if that's possible as part of my brain exercise regimen. How can I do this? Where can I go to get tested to see my...
  7. T

    Truth and facts about eating candy, ice cream as well as junk food

    Hi again. I was wondering, does eating candy, Ice cream and junk food shorten ones life span? If yes then how much does it need to be to be able to do that to the human body? What effects does it have on the human body? can it give you diabetes and other body conditions like that? How much of...
  8. T

    Truth and facts about the MBTI Meyers-Briggs test/s

    Hi again all. Is mbti myers brigs reliable? Is it a science at all or is it all phycology? has it passed peer review? is there any evidence to show its lagit? what are the facts about mbti myers brigs test/s?
  9. T

    What brain exercises improve brain functions based on facts

    Hi, there. I couldn't find much information about this on the net so I came here to ask if anyone here knows as I thought it would be the right forum or maybe I just wasn't looking hard enough. Please not that I don't mean skills but rather what actually works that improves brain functions like...
  10. A

    How Close is the Nearest Potentially Habitable Exoplanet?

    Hi! If you are interested in exoplanets, you might want to know these little known facts about exoplanets. Source: In our stellar neighborhood there might be around 130 potentially (p.) habitable exoplanets, 10 of them being Earth-like. The closest p. Earth-like planet is called Tau Ceti e...
  11. T

    Facts and latest research about stress when it comes to jobs/work

    Hi again, I want to know, what are the effects that stress has on the human body when it comes to work or a job? The reason I am asking this is because I plan to have a job in the future that gives me good stress and to avoid working at a job that gives me bad stress. I base this on some website...
  12. A

    3 facts that you might not know about antimatter

    Hi! I would like to share with you guys some facts you might not know about antimatter: 1º - Recent studies suggest that an antimatter spacecraft could achieve up to 70% the speed of light, reaching Proxima b in just about 6 years. 2º - The maximum time that antimatter has been stored is...
  13. T

    Slowing down the aging process: facts and latest research?

    Hi there, I would like to know all the ways or what I can do that actually works when it comes to slowing down or stopping the aging process for human males in both the brain and the body. I am one of those people that want to stay as youthfull as possible and to live as long as I can so...
  14. W

    Outrageous Facts by Academically Validated Physicists

    Can anyone post here quotes from academically validated physicists that state outrageous facts? I realize that Bohr said that if one isn't shocked by QM one doesn't understand it. But I am looking for something more specific. For example a quote about superposition , entanglement etc. The idea...
  15. Mr Davis 97

    I Why Does the Proof Assume ##|x| = n## in Finite Cyclic Groups?

    Problem: If ##H = \langle x \rangle## and ##|H| = n##, then ##x^n=1## and ##1,x,x^2,\dots, x^{n-1}## are all the distinct elements of ##H##. This is just a proposition in my book with a proof following it. What I don't get is the very beginning of the proof: "Let ##|x| = n##. The elements...
  16. jedishrfu

    What Science Facts Were Discovered in 2017?

    A reference article to other articles on science facts that were discovered this year 2017. Some were theorized and finally proven, others were discovered totally by chance. Which ones most impressed you? http://www.sciencealert.com/23-science-facts-we-didn-t-know-at-the-start-of-2017
  17. M

    MHB What are some surprising facts about Christmas?

    Christmas Facts 1. Jesus was not born on December 25. In fact, the Bible does not give the actual date of Christ's birth. 2. There is nothing in the Bible about presents under a tree. 3. Christmas Eve is not the holiest day of the year. 4. Santa Clause never existed. 5. I see no...
  18. P

    Can a statement be considered a fact without adding the prefix?

    Take for example the following cases: It is a fact that Sam is sad That Sam is sad is a fact That 2+2=4 is a fact. What's the purpose of placing 'it is a fact' or 'is a fact' to those sentences? It would seem that Sam is sad is the same as the fact that Sam is sad. Otherwise, is just adding...
  19. P

    Is There a Difference Between Grass is Green and Green Grass?

    What is the difference between the fact that grass is green and the green grass?
  20. Greg Bernhardt

    Proofs and facts in science, math and life

    Warning! Laymen reasoning ahead :) I've long heard that in science nothing is proven. That proof is a mathematical term. So what exactly do you call a certifiably known fact? An example is that the Earth is round or at least that the Earth is not flat. What do you call that? Can we not say it's...
  21. O

    B Gravity facts, or close to fact

    Hi, Hopefully I am not asking to simple questions, but I am just confused from all internet information, and could need some help to shed light on a few things related to gravity, just to make it an undoubtfull fact to work with. When I am correct, gravity is a consequence ? What I have read...
  22. I

    B "Strength" of the mean of the distribution curve

    My understanding of the distribution curves is very basic but I do have a couple of somewhat generic questions. I looked up a number of definitions but have had a hard time finding these specific answers: - Is there an agreed on minimum number of samples that one needs to take to deem a result...
  23. I

    MHB Useful facts Indeed Finding A Mersenne Prime

    Is there a better way than guess and check?
  24. Mr Davis 97

    Proving facts about matrices without determinants

    Homework Statement Let ##A## and ##B## be ##n \times n## matrices 1) Suppose ##A^2 = 0##. Prove that ##A## is not invertible. 2) Suppose ##AB=0##. Could ##A## be invertible. 3) If ##AB## is invertible, then ##A## and ##B## are invertible Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution 1) Suppose...
  25. Alfreds9

    Where could I look for down-to-earth X-ray facts?

    Hello, I'd like to know which book or papers I'd read to understand, possibly without too rigorous mathematics knowledge, how do photons like X-rays or gamma ones reflect off surfaces and attenuate through solids or generally speaking, facts about how do they interact with the real world. So...
  26. anorlunda

    Viewing Facebook My Way: Finding the Facts

    I have been trying unsuccessfully to find a way to view Facebook my way. What I mean is to view the pictures and prose posted by my friends, but no ads, not their likes, not their shares, no suggestions. I'm like sergeant Joe Friday on Drag net - "Just the facts sir, nothing but the facts."...
  27. Kostas Tzim

    Exploring Galaxies and Stars: Interesting Facts for a School Project

    Hello people! , I got to do a school project and i chose to find information about galaxies and stars...i found interesting because i never studied about them..and i thought it was time to learn some things..at first i was about to choose the topic about black holes but i thought it would be too...
  28. SixNein

    News Supreme Court Fact-Checking: Poor Performance & Possible Solutions

    Stephen Colbert gave some airtime Monday to a story that is pretty interesting. The Supreme Court is doing a very poor job of checking references. Justices often take Amicus Briefs written by lobbyist as fact, cite blog posts, and all sorts of nonsense. The following link is the actual paper...
  29. majormuss

    Numerical Facts about the Milky way's halo

    I am trying to find the density, scale radius and normal radius of the milky way's halo. But these things are pretty hard to find. I want to find them so I can input them into the NFW profile:
  30. Greg Bernhardt

    50 incredible facts about earth

    Fantastic infographic! http://lightsinthedark.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/50-facts-about-earth3.jpg
  31. B

    Writing a book and I need some facts if you'd be so kind.

    So I've done a little research on EMP and I know how they disable electronics, but I don't quite understand the aftermath. If planet 'A' gets hit with a MASSIVE pulse, or several less massive pulses, would flora and fauna be directly affected? All the electronics present on 'A' would...
  32. I

    Is the Conservation of Energy a Law or a Fact?

    Although scientists once thought that radioactivity violated the law of conservation of energy, then new understanding of nuclear decay helped demonstrate that the law was fact. So why do we continue to call the Conservation of Energy a law, and not a fact. Why not a principle? Is there a...
  33. R

    Exploring Quark Stars: Facts and Mysteries

    Good article about Quark stars: http://www.nanowerk.com/news2/space/newsid=31543.php of course, the title instantly makes me think, "Piccard would not approve!" :biggrin:
  34. S

    Facts/Figures on Stars & Galaxies for Year 7 Class

    Hi there Am to teach a lesson on stars and galaxies to my year 7 class on Monday... Want to brush up on a few things... so would be grateful for answers to these questions: 1.Is the current thinking that the universe is infinite or finite? (I thought the consensus was that it was...
  35. 4

    Interesting facts about the Universe

    I'm volunteering at an elementary school for the next couple of weeks to teach the kids cool stuff about science and I think it would be great if I had a "Daily Awesome Universe" fact. I think having a funny/cool facts for the kids to see when they come in would interest them. I have a few, but...
  36. S

    MHB Did you know these ten anatomical facts?

    Ten Anatomical FactsIt takes about seven seconds for food to pass from the mouth to the stomach. Women blink twice as often as men. The average adult has about five liters of blood. The brain uses 20% of the oxygen. It takes about twelve hours to digest food. The length of a man's "member"...
  37. G

    Opinions or facts about M theory

    Hi, so I just wanted some opinions on string theory, superstring theory, or M theory. Any of them would be fine probably, but M theory is the one I'm really curious about (since it's the latest and greatest, according to some of the books I've read). So the only opinions on M theory that I've...
  38. russ_watters

    News Spin and the Coming Election: The Art of Cherry-Picking Facts

    Spin is the art of presenting facts in such a way as to make yourself look good. The best spin, IMO, utilizes accurate facts (to avoid being shown a liar), but utilizes cherry-picking and carefully worded descriptions to paint a picture much more favorable than another view might present. In...
  39. B

    Top 3 facts that would blow the facebook generation away?

    Top 3 facts that would blow the facebook generation away? Hi guys, i come on here and read every thread and try to undertand some of it. most of it blows my mind! so how about a top 3 facts that'l blow the public away. tx for your time if you participate i am in awe tx
  40. F

    Young's double slit experiment: reconciling facts and theory

    I've read in many places that if, in a Young's double slit experiment, you can determine by whatever method through which slit your photon goes through (enhancing the "particle" behavior of light), then the interference pattern dissapears. For this reason Zeilinger says that entangled photons...
  41. D

    Facts about Mirrors and Lenses: What You Need to Know for Your Final

    Homework Statement I am studying for my final and just want some clarification on mirror facts. Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution Convex: focal length = negative and concave is opposite positive Diverginging = - image dist converging just the opposite or positive if...
  42. E

    Exploring Interesting Plant Facts

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  43. R

    Proving the Moon Landing: Facts and Evidence

    I have 2 close friends who believe we've never been to the moon. I've tried explaining to them why the flag moved, why there is no need to go back, etc, and it falls on deaf ears. This morning i saw this video by NASA [...
  44. P

    Facts I need to learn in Physics besides the formula

    Homework Statement I would want to know how free fall, acceleration and friction works ? I mean it like there is a greater friction when an object is heavier or an object is possible to have zero velocity but nonzero accelaration. I need those kinds of things to study :D Homework...
  45. A

    Is diagonalizability necessary for computing the matrix exponential?

    Hi, Suppose I have this matrix A: Why is the matrix exponential like so: when A is not simple (eigenvalues not distinct)? Thanks.
  46. L

    Is studying Theoretical Physics a risky choice for a high school student?

    Hello everybody, I am a high school student from Vietnam. I have been self-studying Physics for two years and I definitely want to study Theoretical Physics at university. However, most of my friends told me not to do Theoretical Physics. The reasons for this are: My view on Physics as a high...
  47. A

    Learning Biology concepts instead of facts

    I am currently taking Biology 2 and learning about Micro organisms like bacteria and fungi. However, I find both listening to my professor lecturing and reading the material draining and only slightly interesting. Its like learning another language where nothing seems to hold much significance...
  48. C

    Programs PhD in Physics: Facts, Fees and Admittance to Cambridge

    How hard is it to get a PhD in Physics? Does it matter which University I do it at? How long does it take? Do I get paid? Is it harder depending on Universities? I want to do one at Cambridge, is that really difficult to do? Thanks! :)
  49. K

    State Taxpayer-Funded Education: Finding the Facts Quickly

    Hello all. I go to a state school and would like to know how much of the actual cost has been paid for by the state taxpayers. Is there a way to find this out without tracing tons of government documents?
  50. nukeman

    Rare, not so well known facts about Andromeda. ?

    I am doing a project on Andromeda, just doing a big write up about it, and draw some pictures of it by hand and so on. Anyone have some facts on it that may not be so well known, and maybe some interesting facts about it that the average stargazer might not know that I can write about. ...
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