Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Physics Grand Unified Theory

I would like to take credit for being uber-insightful. Instead it is just a really satisfying coincidence that my previous post about the 248 dimension beauty may actually have a profound physical significance. Hat tip to Science Mom over on Unity of Truth blog.

It turns out that there is a theory in some physics journal by Garrett Lisi, a very colorful physicist/surfer, that suggests this may be able to explain the four fundamental forces that drive our universe: the electromagnetic force; the strong force, which binds quarks together in atomic nuclei; the weak force, which controls radioactive decay and now finally gravity.

Not even he knows if it is true - it's only a formal (very formal) hunch at this point.

But I want it to be true.

Here's one major reason why: it's mechanism is geometry rather than the much more confusing equation-noodle-pot that is string theory. Wouldn't it be nice if the unity could be pictured. It just makes my brain feel better to look at geometry. At Thomas Aquinas College I got to re-learn calculus. Night was turned into day when the proofs (OK they were quasi-proofs) were shown in geometrical terms and pictures.

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