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Garrett Lisi
Garrett Lisi wrote an online scientific paper entitled "An Exceptionally Simple Theory of Everything" that has the physics community talking. It is an attempt at the universal theory of everything, to replace the Standard Model. Lisi... [more]
Garrett Lisi wrote an online scientific paper entitled "An Exceptionally Simple Theory of Everything" that has the physics community talking. It is an attempt at the universal theory of everything, to replace the Standard Model.
Lisi's theory is considerably more simple than the rival model of string theory.
His theory is based on the mathematical shape, known as E8.
Being poor sucks," Garrett 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."
77%
23%
What do you think of Garrett Lisi's Theory of Everything?
272 votes so far
Leader:
It's easier to understand that String Theory, maybe he has a chance
It's easier to understand that String Theory, maybe he has a chance
68%
32%
Will scientists ever unify quantum theory, relativity, gravity, and electromagnetics into a "Theory of Everything"?
25 votes so far
Leader:
Yes, eventually the scientific community will find an elegant solution
Yes, eventually the scientific community will find an elegant solution
55%
45%
Can the e8 shape help us find the "theory of everything"?
40 votes so far
Leader:
Yes, the E8 can lead us down the right path
Yes, the E8 can lead us down the right path
The Standard Model of particle physics is a theory that describes three of the four known fundamental interactions between the elementary particles that make up all matter. It is a quantum field theory developed between 1970 and 1973 which is consistent with both quantum mechanics and special relativity.
To date, almost all experimental tests of the three forces described by the Standard Model have agreed with its predictions. However, the Standard Model falls short of being a complete theory of fundamental interactions, primarily because of its lack of inclusion of gravity, the fourth known fundamental interaction, but also because of the large number of numerical parameters (such as masses and coupling constants) that must be put "by hand" into the theory (rather than being derived from first principles).
The four forces are:
To date, almost all experimental tests of the three forces described by the Standard Model have agreed with its predictions. However, the Standard Model falls short of being a complete theory of fundamental interactions, primarily because of its lack of inclusion of gravity, the fourth known fundamental interaction, but also because of the large number of numerical parameters (such as masses and coupling constants) that must be put "by hand" into the theory (rather than being derived from first principles).
The four forces are:
| Interaction | Current Theory | Mediators | Range(m) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong | Quantum chromodynamics |
gluons | 10-15 | ||
| Electromagnetic | Quantum electrodynamics |
photons | infinite | ||
| Weak | Electroweak Theory | W and Z bosons | 10-18 | ||
| Gravitation | General Relativity |
gravitons |
infinite |
Source: Wikipedia
Roger Highfield - Editor of 'New Scientist' - explains why Garrett Lisi, the surfer who drew up a 'theory of everything' to explain the universe, is a great role model for science.
More perspectives...
"Although he cultivates a bit of a surfer-guy image its clear he has put enormous effort and time into working the complexities of this structure out over several years," Prof Smolin told the press
"Some incredibly beautiful stuff falls out of Lisi's theory," adds David Ritz Finkelstein at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta. "This must be more than coincidence and he really is touching on something profound."
Prof Marcus du Sautoy, of Oxford University and author of Finding Moonshine, told press: "The proposal in this paper looks a long shot and there seem to be a lot things still to fill in."
"The group of symmetries of this strange geometry called E8 is one of the most intriguing structures that Nature has left for the mathematician to play with," commented Prof Marcus du Sautoy of Oxford University, currently in Auckland. "Most of the time mathematical objects fit into nice patterns that we can order and classify. But this one just sits there like a huge Everest."
"Some incredibly beautiful stuff falls out of Lisi's theory," adds David Ritz Finkelstein at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta. "This must be more than coincidence and he really is touching on something profound."
Prof Marcus du Sautoy, of Oxford University and author of Finding Moonshine, told press: "The proposal in this paper looks a long shot and there seem to be a lot things still to fill in."
"The group of symmetries of this strange geometry called E8 is one of the most intriguing structures that Nature has left for the mathematician to play with," commented Prof Marcus du Sautoy of Oxford University, currently in Auckland. "Most of the time mathematical objects fit into nice patterns that we can order and classify. But this one just sits there like a huge Everest."
