Surfer dude stuns physicists with theory of everything

[IR35 Avoider]

Surfer dude stuns physicists with theory of everything

An impoverished surfer has drawn up a new theory of the universe, seen by some as the Holy Grail of physics, which has received rave reviews from scientists.

Despite this unusual career path, his proposal is remarkable because, by the arcane standards of particle physics, it does not require highly complex mathematics.

Even better, it does not require more than one dimension of time and three of space, when some rival theories need ten or even more spatial dimensions and other bizarre concepts. And it may even be possible to test his theory, which predicts a host of new particles, perhaps even using the new Large Hadron Collider atom smasher that will go into action near Geneva next year.

I can't think why I should care, but I want him to be right, and I'm almost tempted to brush up on enough physics to understand, at least vaguely, what he's saying.

[gingerjedi]

I can't think why I should care, but I want him to be right, and I'm almost tempted to brush up on enough physics to understand, at least vaguely, what he's saying.

Me too, I have always been interested in physics but I just can't get my head around some of the concepts and theories that get banded around these days, so much so that I can't help but think extra dimensions and multiple universes were just made up for the sake of convenience, I just don’t get how things that are so inconceivable to me are talked about as fact?? I would love to be able to just loosely grasp what’s really going on.

[sasguru]

... I just don’t get how things that are so inconceivable to me are talked about as fact?? .

Is it coz you is thick?

[Cowboy Bob]

Someone needs to make a t-shirt with the E8 pattern on with the words "Holy crap, that's it!" written below. Would make a great geek present...

[Spacecadet]

If he's got it then fantastic

The article stinks though, have you actually read his theory?

It’s full of mathematics that I recognize but are way above what a non physics/Mathematics graduate would even be able to start to comprehend.

The theory itself is based on the symmetry of a 57 dimensional object (giving a total of 248 dimensions)

He's not a random surfer dude - he's a physics PHD graduate (ie he's spent 6-10 years studying physics and published new research of his own).

The Telegraph managed to over romanticize the article and completely ruined what could have been a really good story

[scooterscot]

Fascinating... would be cool if his predictions match the LHC results

[threaded]

Fascinating... would be cool if his predictions match the LHC results

My gut feel, fnar fnar, IMHO, it's too simple to be wrong. Should be 20 new particles, and 'easy' to spot.

I found the 'surfer dude' thing a bit OTT too. You ought to read his resumé:

9/91-5/99 University of California, San Diego
5/99 Ph.D. in Physics
G.P.A. - 3.9

Honors Fellowships - UC Regents fellowship, ARCS Foundation fellowship.

9/86-6/91 University of California, Los Angeles
6/91 B.S. in Physics and B.S. in Mathematics
G.P.A. - 3.9 (4.0 in Physics and 4.0 in Mathematics)
Academic Honors - Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Pi Sigma, Golden Key.

Graduation Honors - College Honors, Highest Honors in Physics, Highest Honors in Mathematics, Summa Cum Laude, Kinsey Prize for The Outstanding Graduating Senior in Physics.

[TimberWolf]

Clearly this theory was inspired by Hawkins…’s wheelchair spokes.

[scooterscot]

Keep it simple - It is often the way.

The number of complex solutions to simple problems even in the engineering profession makes me dizzy.. always try and KIS. The NHS is a good example of KIS gone bad.

[TimberWolf]

Occam's razor in science.