Monthly Archives: June 2024

Physical Intuition vs. “Math”

Posted on June 29, 2024 by woit

A common theme in discussions online of the problems of fundamental theoretical physics is that the subject has gotten “lost in math”, losing touch with “physical intuition”. In such discussions, when people refer to “math” it’s hard to figure out … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 26 Comments

Latest Breakthrough From String Theory

Posted on June 19, 2024 by woit

PRL has just published this paper (preprint here), with associated press release here. The press release explains that the authors have discovered how to use string theory to provide “an easier way to extract pi from calculations involved in deciphering … Continue reading →

Posted in This Week's Hype | 23 Comments

The Mystery of Spin

Posted on June 13, 2024 by woit

The following makes no claims to originality or any physical significance on its own. For a better explanation of some of the math and the physical significance of the use of quaternions here, see this lecture by John Baez. I’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 20 Comments

Strings 2024

Posted on June 4, 2024 by woit

There’s been very little blogging here the past month or so. For part of the time I was on vacation, but another reason is that there just hasn’t been very much to write about. Today I thought I’d start looking … Continue reading →

Posted in Strings 2XXX | 31 Comments