Science progress
21 Aug 2006 12:44:10 UTC
Topic 191711
(moderation:
As a matter of fact, all laser interferometers like LIGO, GEO600 and VIRGO, plus sophisticated scientific satellites like Gravity Probe B are or were being built to prove (or disprove) a theory dating back to 1916.Has the progress of physics stopped in 1916?
Tullio
Science progress
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How do you measure progress and importance of one or other discovery?
any quantitive measure to allow compare one discovery with another?
RE: RE: Has the progress
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I don't think in quantitative terms. What strikes me is that general relativity is still at the leading edge of physics after almost a century.
Well, since 1916 pre-dated
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Well, since 1916 pre-dated quantum theory, one could say that the biggest advance in physics, ever, happened since 1916. I guess you could count that as progress.
After that? Well, how about anti-matter, neutrinos, QED (which combines quantum theory with relativity), the electroweak theory, QCD, the Standard Model, resolution of the EPR paradox, ...
There seems to be an implication in the OP that physics progresses only by discovering (and characterising) a new force, or, if you add particle physics and quantum theory, by ever deeper elucidation of the nature of space, time, and matter. What about the progress in physics that produced, in the end, the computer you use to write your messages to the Einstein@Home science board? the lasers and fibre optic cables which carry the internet traffic which allows your typing to be seen by (potentially) millions? your Never Lost GPS gizmo? the MRI devices which help physicians diagnose your ailments?
RE: Well, since 1916
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It would be stupid to deny that physics has made much progress since 1916, sometimes against Einstein's ideas (e.g. quantum mechanics). Having done some elementary particle physics in the Sixties, every time I spoke about general relativity people would simply laugh: that is old stuff! You should study S-Matrix theory! Now the same elementary particle physicists are building amd running laser interferometers to test general relativity.
Tullio
as to me the major discovery
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as to me the major discovery was electicity generation and distribution followed by electification of the whole world. It changed the way we live so profoundly and i think GR will never have such an impact on the civilization. And i value the developement in electronics most and it was realy huge step forward during 20th century.
in the 21th century i expect big impact on our lives coming from bio nano-scale technologies and hopefuly blended with electronics it will bring us superior artificial intelligence that will leave our poor human brains far behind
I would interpret ( excuse me
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I would interpret ( excuse me ) as follows:
I think it is true that there hasn't been much fundamental convergence ( ie. unification ) between gravitational theory and the remainder of physics at a theoretical level. Marvellous advances in, and indeed discovery of, the other force modes ( nuclear and weak ) - now 'fairly summarised' in the Standard Model. Not so with gravity which hasn't even jelled with quantum mechanics, 'surely' a pre-requisite to further progress.
It's cute that we can ( attempt to ) measure spacetime, GR etc using extreme technology based on the other forces.
Cheers, Mike.
PS - Tullio, didn't Loris do well on the weekend! :-)
I have made this letter longer than usual because I lack the time to make it shorter ...
... and my other CPU is a Ryzen 5950X :-) Blaise Pascal
RE: I would interpret (
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Yes Mike, I totally agree with you on both physics and Loris! Cheers.
Tullio