String theorists should stop referring to themselves as physicists and just accept they're pure mathematicians already.
String theory makes for an interesting branch of mathematics, but an awful excuse for a physical theory.
A mysterious connection between number theory, algebra and string theory?
21–30 of 91 posts
Re: A mysterious connection between number theory, algebra and string theory?
#22Both physics and the unreasonable success of math at explaining the world make much more sense if you just assume we are living in a math equation.
What would that even mean though? People throw around these "universe is a computation" ideas without ever making any predictions. Do you think you're living in the matrix? Or do you just think that quantum mechanics can be fully simulated on a classical turing machine? Here is the almighty Scott Aaronson to set us right on the subject: http://www.closertotruth.com/series/the-cosmos-computer#vide... http://www.closer…
>What would that even mean though?
That all physical systems are governed by equations rather than, say, gnomes pulling levers.
>Or do you just think that quantum mechanics can be fully simulated on a classical turing machine?
This seems quite reasonable. There's no good reason this couldn't be the case, and quantization of fundamental units like Energy-time/Momentum-distance is certainly something that a programmer might reasonably do for a simulation.
Re: A mysterious connection between number theory, algebra and string theory?
#23Interesting this is a reprint from Quanta magazine, from March 12. https://www.quantamagazine.org/20150312-mathematicians-chase... The original version has some photographs missing from the Scientific American verison.
Thanks, we updated the link from http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/mathematicians-cha....
Re: A mysterious connection between number theory, algebra and string theory?
#24Earlier quoted context omitted.
What would that even mean though? People throw around these "universe is a computation" ideas without ever making any predictions. Do you think you're living in the matrix? Or do you just think that quantum mechanics can be fully simulated on a classical turing machine? Here is the almighty Scott Aaronson to set us right on the subject: http://www.closertotruth.com/series/the-cosmos-computer#vide... http://www.closer…
>What would that even mean though? That all physical systems are governed by equations rather than, say, gnomes pulling levers. >Or do you just think that quantum mechanics can be fully simulated on a classical turing machine? This seems quite reasonable. There's no good reason this couldn't be the case, and quantization of fundamental units like Energy-time/Momentum-distance is certainly something that a programmer…
http://www.simulation-argument.com/simulation.html
If your glass is half full, then of course we are living in a simulation. What is the halting problem for this simulation? That's the real question. IMO that should be true AI.
Re: A mysterious connection between number theory, algebra and string theory?
#25Math and physics look like a lot of fun. Does anyone know if the real fun only starts after like a decade of studying?
Re: A mysterious connection between number theory, algebra and string theory?
#26The M24 and Monster groups mentioned in the article are examples of the "sporadic" groups, which are 26 exceptional finite simple groups. John Conway (mentioned in the article, inventor of his game of life) discovered four of these groups, Co0, Co1, Co2 and Co3.
It's notable that the Mathieu Groups (like M24) were discovered in the 19th century, long before any other sporadic group was known.
Re: A mysterious connection between number theory, algebra and string theory?
#27String theorists should stop referring to themselves as physicists and just accept they're pure mathematicians already. String theory makes for an interesting branch of mathematics, but an awful excuse for a physical theory.
The problem is physicists tend to use "intuition" to prove things. I don't know any string theorists, but if they were trained to think like physicists then it's probably not any different.
Re: A mysterious connection between number theory, algebra and string theory?
#28This is so exciting. Pity one has to devote one's life to study such things to even start to make sense of these discoveries.
Well if it excites you then perhaps you can take it as a hobby or side project and get some satisfaction and sense of achievement as you progress on this path.
Re: A mysterious connection between number theory, algebra and string theory?
#29There is nothing mysterious. Endofunctions on sets are transformations. Think permutations but you are allowed to have repeats. If you iterate them f(x), f(f(x)), f(f(f(x))) ... the function forgets elements until you have a stable partition which cycles. http://chadbrewbaker.github.io/combinatorics/transformations...
Re: A mysterious connection between number theory, algebra and string theory?
#30Math and physics look like a lot of fun. Does anyone know if the real fun only starts after like a decade of studying?
It depends on what you find fun.
I get a lot of enjoyment out of simply solving problems that I find in the wild. (I spent some time proving that my particular walking pattern was, in fact, more efficient than an alternative because the actual distance traveled was shorter.) If that's sufficient for you, then all it requires is a little studying and a little imagination.
If you want to contemplate the cutting edge, then yeah, a decade of studying is necessary mostly because it's hard to actually comprehend all the implications on the cutting edge until you've done so.
On the upside, there are plenty of MOOCs on physics and math these days; if you find a set you like, you can absorb plenty that way.