[Carlhole]

Surfer dude stuns physicists with theory of everything

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('The Telegraph', 'A')n impoverished surfer has drawn up a new theory of the universe, seen by some as the Holy Grail of physics, which has received rave reviews from scientists.

Garrett Lisi, 39, has a doctorate but no university affiliation and spends most of the year surfing in Hawaii, where he has also been a hiking guide and bridge builder (when he slept in a jungle yurt).

In winter, he heads to the mountains near Lake Tahoe, Nevada, where he snowboards. "Being poor sucks," Lisi says. "It's hard to figure out the secrets of the universe when you're trying to figure out where you and your girlfriend are going to sleep next month."

Despite this unusual career path, his proposal is remarkable because, by the arcane standards of particle physics, it does not require highly complex mathematics.

Even better, it does not require more than one dimension of time and three of space, when some rival theories need ten or even more spatial dimensions and other bizarre concepts. And it may even be possible to test his theory, which predicts a host of new particles, perhaps even using the new Large Hadron Collider atom smasher that will go into action near Geneva next year...

[AirlinePilot]

Even though he says he may have an elegant solution it seems apparent (as it always is with this particular quest) that there are possibly some big problems with Lisi's premise

" Sabine, of the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, who recently programed a talk by Lisi into an international meeting on Loop Quantum Gravity, and who is thanked in the paper as having been a useful correspondent, stresses the limitations of the work:[citation needed]

Given today's status, Garrett's model does not naturally lead to a unification of the Standard Model interactions with gravity (he has to choose the action by hand that contains both; in his paper only one of possible ways of doing it is described, this being explained by Lisi himself), (a) it does not allow us to understand quantum gravity (since there's nothing said about quantization); (b) it does not explain the parameters in the SM (since there isn't yet a mechanism for symmetry breaking); (c) it does not explain the cosmological constant or its value (as said above, to claim there has to be one, it would be necessary to show there's no way to do it without one); (d) it does not explain the hierarchy problem (and I see no way to do so); (e)it does not explain why we live in a spacetime with 3 spatial and 1 timelike dimensions."

Now how does that in any way suggest that somehow magically this is it? It is and will be interesting to follow though.

[jasonraymondson]

I just printed the paper and read it, and now my brain hurts. (simple my ass)

So, How will this feed the masses once the peak passes and we are all trying to survive off the land?

In my opinion less math is needed and more elbow grease should be applied.

[Keith_McClary]

I've read his paper (I need a few weeks to fully understand it). If his idea that the "theory of everthing" should involve E8 doesn't work, then I think we rewind a few decades and start over.

[PenultimateManStanding]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jasonraymondson', 'I') just printed the paper and read it, and now my brain hurts. (simple my ass)

[Bas]

Be one with the board and the wave man!

[PenultimateManStanding]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Bas', 'B')e one with the board and the wave man!

[Bas]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PenultimateManStanding', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Bas', 'B')e one with the board and the wave man!

[PenultimateManStanding]

I spent my youth among the creosote bushes. I was 20 miles from the ocean. But those chaparral brushes were all around me. The smell of the ocean is not in my heart, the smell of the chaparral is.

[Bas]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PenultimateManStanding', 'I') spent my youth among the creosote bushes. I was 20 miles from the ocean. But those chaparral brushes were all around me. The smell of the ocean is not in my heart, the smell of the chaparral is.

[greenworm]

Oh man he was so close. All he had to do was realize space and time is curved. Cowabunga!



That image represents a swatty twirling through 9 cycles. Very interesting symbol ya got there G.



Chances are if it predicts the micro, it can predict the macro.


You ever see the future?



There is one angle, here is another beautiful representation of one point in time. meow.

[Plantagenet]

Way cool.

And golem is right.....there are very curious similarities between the E8 and many religious symbols, such as Tibetan Bhuddist Tankas, some Indian mandalas, etc.

THANKS!

[Dezakin]

E8 is just an algebraic group, its not a picture...

I dont find anything convincing about this guys arguments, especially the lack of coupling constants.

[Blacksmith]

The beautiful thing about all string theories is there no way of proving them so you can theorize until the cows come home and all you'll hear is "way cool man". And that what their worth "way cool man".

[greenworm]

Not true. If you plot enough data points over time you will see the true nature of time. One problem lies in the fact that your mindset is gregorian when it should be galactic. Your data points have been twisted and manipulated, bummer dude. Well, surfs up, I gotta go catch me a narly wave, totally awesome.

[Dezakin]

You guys haven't the faintest idea of what you're talking about, do you?

[greenworm]

Troll speed bump, heads up.



Another moment in time.





Big decisions.


Dezakin,

Maybe have a gander at this video, your concept of time might change.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6A3BzWdd_o

[jasonraymondson]

Alot of people on here talk about things they know nothing about in order to feel more important.

[greenworm]

And alot of people just talk, it is all relative.

Here is another moment in time.


If you don't have a plan at this point, ouch! The hand of GOD cometh.

[Stratovarius]

You people are NUTS!