[Theo]

If the universe is "unattractive" and "ugly," then why are these scientists so enamored by it, to the point of making it their life-work?

And I'd posit that the universe is not "hodge-podge" or "random," but more complex than our mortal minds can fathom.

I'd argue that the universe is full of wonder beyond our imagination, a thing worthy of our fascinated investigation. :-)

[concerned about politics]

I'd argue that the universe is full of wonder beyond our imagination, a thing worthy of our fascinated investigation. :-)

Somehow, in my little world of imagination, I expected the planet Mars to appear much larger when it came this close to earth. I was hoping to see a planet, but instead saw a large star. It was interesting, but it popped my bubble. *sigh*

[RightWingAtheist]

If the universe is "unattractive" and "ugly," then why are these scientists so enamored by it, to the point of making it their life-work?

It's their job to find the beauty just underneath. When scientists speak of "beauty" and "elegance" or "ugly" and "unattractive" they're using these terms in a manner different from everyday parlance. A "beautiful" theory is one manages to explain simply and concisely a given phenomena or set of interconnected variables. The new evidence makes the universe seem "ugly" just because much is inconsistent with or difficult to expalin with the "beautiful" theories at our disposable. By explaining the evidence through a new set of theories, scientists hope to "touch up" the universe and make it look pretty again.

And I'd posit that the universe is not "hodge-podge" or "random," but more complex than our mortal minds can fathom.

The universe is complex precisely because it is hodgepodge and random, and our mortal minds seem to have evolved precisely so that we can understand objects of great complexity. I believe Einstein once said something to the effect that the universe is wonderful not because it is beyond our understanding, but by virtue of the fact that we can understand it.

I'd argue that the universe is full of wonder beyond our imagination, a thing worthy of our fascinated investigation.

Amen to that! There's a big difference between being beyond our imagination and being beyond our understanding.

[Chemist_Geek]

I'd argue that the universe is full of wonder beyond our imagination, a thing worthy of our fascinated investigation. :-)

Aye, "there are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy..."

[Consort]

If the universe is "unattractive" and "ugly," then why are these scientists so enamored by it, to the point of making it their life-work?

They majored in Cosmology and minored in Cosmetology, or vice versa.

[InterceptPoint]

If the universe is "unattractive" and "ugly," then why are these scientists so enamored by it, to the point of making it their life-work?

That was a very poor choice of words to express the idea that the mathematics that is currently envoked to characterize the laws governing matter and the interaction of matter in the universe are very complex.

e=mc2 is beautiful. F=ma is beautiful. They are beautiful because they are simple and explain features of nature on very grand scales. The great hope is that the laws governing the universe and the formation of the universe and the smallest particles will ultimately be defined by equations as simple of these. My guess is that this will only happen when we find a perspective (perhaps a multi-dimensional universe) or a new mathematics where the math suddenly simplifies and a great white light shines on us all.

I hope to live long enough to see it.

[Doctor Stochastic]

"Random" is the most complex you can get.