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The Crisis in String Theory Is Worse Than You Think

math.columbia.edu

1–10 of 42 posts

Re: The Crisis in String Theory Is Worse Than You Think

#4
> Peculiar individuals, no matter how famous they are, no matter how brilliant they are, if they’re off that consensus, and they’ve been off that consensus for a long time, they’re probably wrong.

So this guy works on string theory and has never heard of Einstein?

Why not use science to check what makes sense? - Because anyone would instantly notice that string theory is bs.

I think there should be a system, that when scientists act in bad faith (wasting money on questionable ideas because they personally profit) should retire.

Re: The Crisis in String Theory Is Worse Than You Think

#6

> Peculiar individuals, no matter how famous they are, no matter how brilliant they are, if they’re off that consensus, and they’ve been off that consensus for a long time, they’re probably wrong. So this guy works on string theory and has never heard of Einstein? Why not use science to check what makes sense? - Because anyone would instantly notice that string theory is bs. I think there should be a system, that whe…

I don’t know the particulars of this debate, but as it is written, the claim is (IMO) trivially true: most people offering “out there” views are wrong. The hypothesis space is infinite. On the other hand, it’s useful to have epistemic practices that help distinguish true from false. A good one is experimental confirmation. That seems to be challenging to acquire here.

Re: The Crisis in String Theory Is Worse Than You Think

#7

> Peculiar individuals, no matter how famous they are, no matter how brilliant they are, if they’re off that consensus, and they’ve been off that consensus for a long time, they’re probably wrong. So this guy works on string theory and has never heard of Einstein? Why not use science to check what makes sense? - Because anyone would instantly notice that string theory is bs. I think there should be a system, that whe…

I suspect when Susskind was talking about ideas away from the consensus _usually_ being suspect, he was talking about what the general public or non-practitioners should think about, especially since they are not usually in a position to judge those ideas. As a practitioner you certainly can’t ignore non mainstream ideas, or else no new ideas would ever become mainstream.

Re: The Crisis in String Theory Is Worse Than You Think

#10
Is part of it that we just can’t test any of this because we can’t either examine a black hole or run an accelerator the diameter of the Moon’s orbit?

Maybe planet nine if it exists will turn out to be a small primordial black hole within probe range, or we will locate a micro primordial black hole within the solar system.

Would building an even bigger deeper into time gazing JWST help?

I’ve gone down the black hole rabbit hole lately and personally I’d love to see an ultra sensitive fish eye X-ray and gamma ray telescope to hunt for the weak signatures that might be emitted by tiny accretion discs in or near our solar system. Find us a lovely marble to go examine and chuck stuff into.

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