Is a Grand Unified Theory of physics possible? (Darwin, doom)

[Seyorni]

There was at one time serious debate about weather a heavier-than-air flying machine was possible.

Don't underestimate science.

[yossarian22]

Originally Posted by Jaiket

We'll have to wait and see. Superstring theory appears to be promising from my layman perspective.

That hydra of a theory? I lost count of how many types there are. The original forms failed to predict that the expansion of the universe is accelerating. The equations were just modified to predict it. Until we actually can produce experiments, we are nowhere close to creating a unified field theory.
I have little doubt that eventually there will be a unified theory. People thought that electricity and magnetism were not connected in the slightest. Look how accurate that turned out to be.

[Jayhawker Soule]

Originally Posted by yossarian22

That hydra of a theory?

Get over yourself ...

[yossarian22]

Originally Posted by Jay

Get over yourself ...

As of now, I have come across over 47 distinct versions of string theory, discluding those which have modified equations to predict dark matter, but are otherwise the same-counting those would double the number. The only core similarities between the versions are "Particles are made of vibrating strings of energy" and "There are more than 3 dimensions"
The number of dimensions I have seen are 5, 10,11, and 26, but it appears that you can essentially declare however many dimensions you want it to be.

[EiNsTeiN]

Wow...A thread about the Grand Unified Theory and I wasn't informed?!

Well, I personally dont think we can achieve such a thing, at least for now..

I have my reasons categorized into two groups, scientifically reasons, and philosophical reasons..

First, the current approaches used by scientists are not really the ONEs required for the GUT..

There are many theories already that give much promises, but I think they actually dont!

Anyway, CERN is performing an experiment on May 2008 (using what they call it LHC) to dig deeper into the universe, and to know whether the current theories are valid or not....We will have to wait

Also, a GUT would require mixing other sciences into physics to make it really Grand, and really Unified....while such a thing is not occuring, I dont believe any theory they might get right now will be any Grand nor any Unified

Philosophical wise, I dont think such a theory would exist, because if so, people will get nothing more to look for, and after 100 years of finding the theory, people will become stupid!

[Jayhawker Soule]

Originally Posted by yossarian22

As of now, I have come across over 47 distinct versions of string theory, ...

Sorry that the issue hasn't been solved to your satisfaction. Perhaps it's time for us to tell the world of theoretical physics that, per yossarian, it is wasting its time, and that they should content themselves to anxiously await the time when your petty ridicule gives way to something more substantive and constructive.

[EiNsTeiN]

Originally Posted by Jay

Sorry that the issue hasn't been solved to your satisfaction. Perhaps it's time for us to tell the world of theoretical physics that, per yossarian, it is wasting its time, and that they should content themselves to anxiously await the time when your petty ridicule gives way to something more substantive and constructive.

I'm afraid to say yossorian is pretty much accurate in his post..

The string theory isn't able to describe everything that much accurate...and it's not even a full theory yet...It needs too much to become a satisfying theory..

Moreover, the LHC experiment at CERN can simply show it's all a ********, and doesn't make anysense!

I attended a seminar last week for Dr. Ignatios Antoniadis...He is one of the developers of the string theory....He said there is not mathematics yet that can model the superstrings in a satisfying way...

It all depends on the LHC...and so we have to wait..

The results will be either supporting the String theory and give us evidences for its validety, and that would really be cool....Or the results can show how much we dont know anything, and they can open the doors to totally new sciences and theories!...Who knows anyway!

[Comet]

I think the most important thing about string theroy is that is does give us something "new". If you look at the so called knowledge we have, it came about due to other theories. Heck, even P-Brane theroy would not be around were it not for 11-dimensional theory, string-theory, etc....

Yet we aren't debating string theory, but if a Grand Unified Theory is possible. I think it is. I really think the problem is people get to specialized in one area. Quantums tend to study and research quantum, Astrophysicists the astro, etc....

I think it is possible. It wil take many more insights, much research, and new discoveries to do that...... but I think it is possible, despite "new theories" that are proven wrong.... As Seyorni said:

There was at one time serious debate about weather a heavier-than-air flying machine was possible.

Don't underestimate science.

Perhaps time will tell those of us who live long enough to see it.

[Random]

There already is a grand unified theory of physics available: it'