Sheldon Cooper is not amused.
“Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts” - Richard Feynman
Man trying to figure out God’s plan will never be totally successful.
Everything we think we understand is only an approximation.
That doesn’t mean we should stop trying. Only that we need to understand we may never understand certain things.
For instance, a very simple example:
We know for certain that a specific length of material will form a circle of a certain diameter. But try to process that as a mathematical formula and you end up with an infinite number. An approximation APPROACHING the actual length but never getting there. But close enough for practical purposes.
So our math is a bit off or we really don’t have a handle on exactly what is happening.
He’s noting that as the possible size of the electron shrinks, string theory is circling the drain, bringing government-funded mega projects with it.
From Amazon (emphasis added):
"In this illuminating book, the renowned theoretical physicist Lee Smolin argues that fundamental physics -- the search for the laws of nature -- losing its way. Ambitious ideas about extra dimensions, exotic particles, multiple universes, and strings have captured the public’s imagination -- and the imagination of experts. But these ideas have not been tested experimentally, and some, like string theory, seem to offer no possibility of being tested. Yet these speculations dominate the field, attracting the best talent and much of the funding and creating a climate in which emerging physicists are often penalized for pursuing other avenues. As Smolin points out, the situation threatens to impede the very progress of science. With clarity, passion, and authority, Smolin offers an unblinking assessment of the troubles that face modern physics -- and an encouraging view of where the search for the next big idea may lead."
From Amazon (emphasis added):
"In this illuminating book, the renowned theoretical physicist Lee Smolin argues that fundamental physics -- the search for the laws of nature -- losing its way. Ambitious ideas about extra dimensions, exotic particles, multiple universes, and strings have captured the public’s imagination -- and the imagination of experts. But these ideas have not been tested experimentally, and some, like string theory, seem to offer no possibility of being tested. Yet these speculations dominate the field, attracting the best talent and much of the funding and creating a climate in which emerging physicists are often penalized for pursuing other avenues. As Smolin points out, the situation threatens to impede the very progress of science. With clarity, passion, and authority, Smolin offers an unblinking assessment of the troubles that face modern physics -- and an encouraging view of where the search for the next big idea may lead."
Bookmark.
