[Logophile]

After years of searching and months of sifting through data, scientists have still not found the elusive sub-atomic particle that could help to unravel the secrets of the universe, a science magazine said on Wednesday.

Hah! Particle physicists (or those who write about them) have such delusions of grandeur. Most of the secrets of the universe would remain just as secretive if the "God Particle" were discovered.

For example, we still do not understand how to compute velocity fields in turbulent flows, how to create life from inanimate matter, or how to find socks lost in the drier.

[tortoise]

For example, we still do not understand how to compute velocity fields in turbulent flows

More accurately, this is a problem that is computationally intractable for all practical purposes, which is quite a bit different than not knowing or even being theoretically impossible. There are an increasingly large number of real problems that are only "impossible" due to limitations on computational resources, not due to limitations of understanding.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

For example, we still do not understand how to compute velocity fields in turbulent flows, how to create life from inanimate matter, or how to find socks lost in the drier.

Or how to count 32nd notes in 4/4 time!