Posted on 10/27/2022 1:59:46 PM PDT by nickcarraway
A new conjecture in physics challenges the leading “theory of everything.”
On June 25, Timm Wrase awoke in Vienna and groggily scrolled through an online repository of newly posted physics papers. One title startled him into full consciousness.
The paper, by the prominent string theorist Cumrun Vafa of Harvard and his collaborators, conjectured a simple formula dictating which kinds of universes are allowed to exist and which are forbidden, according to string theory. The leading candidate for a “theory of everything” weaving the force of gravity together with quantum physics, string theory defines all matter and forces as vibrations of tiny strands of energy. The theory permits some 10500 different solutions: a vast, varied “landscape” of possible universes.* String theorists like Wrase and Vafa have strived for years to place our particular universe somewhere in this landscape of possibilities.
But now, Vafa and his colleagues were conjecturing that in the string landscape, universes like ours—or what ours is thought to be like—don’t exist. If the conjecture is correct, Wrase and other string theorists immediately realized, the cosmos must either be profoundly different than previously supposed or string theory must be wrong.
(Excerpt) Read more at theatlantic.com ...
String theory is one thing, string reality is different: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yv_QUiDYTTg
Great minds etc....
The quote is from “Deteriorata,” a Harvard Lampoon production.
String theory is not yet considered solid science.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/String_theory#Criticism
O, the depth of the riches
of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are His judgments,
and untraceable His ways!
“Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been His counselor?”
“Who has first given to God,
that God should repay him?”
For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.
To Him be the glory forever! Amen. (Romans 11:33-36)
One of the long-standing mysteries of cosmology is why the vacuum energy is such a small value. Based on quantum mechanics mathematics it should be 10E120 times larger than it is.
Maybe it was much larger at the instant of the birth of the universe and decayed very quickly to levels that were masked by the radiation and matter energies that predominated for the first 10 billion years.
Its only now, when the other collapsing gravity energies are so dilute that the tiny expansive energy predominates. Some very interesting questions for continuing research.
Can't hear the Rod Serling narration?
You are not in the audience.
You are a part of the story.
Thank you for that. Although I imagine with a complete understanding, we would find there is no limit at all.
Or, as MtnClimber said:
I regret to inform you that if you cannot hear the Rod Serling narration then it means you are not in the audience. You are a part of the story.
Hmmm.
>>The cats will never understand the books in the library—but both cats and the library are real.
The difference is that the cats are not at all bothered by their lack of understanding the books.
“have strived”? Conservatives would use “have striven”.
Just what I needed. Another ridiculous article on the nature of the Universe.
String theory doesn’t dictate which kinds of universes are allowed to exist. No theory dictates anything. Theories are an attempt to understand.
The Universe is not impossible. What I find amusing is some peoples’ attempts to declare that they understand the Universe. I don’t. I remain in awe as the vastness of it, and take in the beauty of God’s creation, fully aware that a finite, mortal mind cannot encompass the infinite and immortal.
I don’t care if Sheldon Cooper thinks string theory is the greatest thing.
Just a tad bit off...
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