Surfer dude stuns physicists with theory of everything »
Posted by: Jordan 8 months, 1 week ago60 CommentsReflectReport this Story
An impoverished surfer has drawn up a new theory of the universe, seen by some as the Holy Grail of physics, which as received rave reviews from scientists. Garrett Lisi, 39, has a doctorate but no university affiliation and spends most of the year surfing in Hawaii, where he has also been a hiking guide and bridge builder.
Read Full Story at telegraph.co.uk
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Comments So Far: 60
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capn_caveman
Nov. 15, 2007, 1:11 p.m.When I first read the headline, I figured this was from 'The Onion'. Thankfully it was not. Very fascinating article.
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CactusAnnie
Nov. 15, 2007, 1:32 p.m.Rad article, Jordon!
Brosef, What a Cooleo, Gnarmax Ding Dong! ;D
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jimdoze
Nov. 15, 2007, 2:56 p.m.'Holy crap, that's it!'
Now that is MY kind of physicist!!
So long "Eureka", we'll remember you fondly.
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aceofspades1
Nov. 15, 2007, 6:34 p.m.where are all the great scientific minds that inhabit Propellor? - -Why aren't they chiming in? Could it be they are zoning out on E8?
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Dicax_Maximus
Nov. 15, 2007, 7:48 p.m."Mind the size of a planet, and what do I get..... Some human that thinks he's out-thought me.... Oh dear...."
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BronxBomber
Nov. 15, 2007, 7:43 p.m.Now what are the odds of some surfer dude coming up with an objective scientific theory as vast as this??? I wonder if this dude grooves to the Beach Boys?
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kobzikov
Nov. 15, 2007, 7:59 p.m.For those who are interested, here is the link to Garrett Lisi's paper: http://arxiv.org/pdf/0711.0770
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ConquerorWyrm
Nov. 15, 2007, 8:21 p.m.I really need to score some better weed if I'm going to understand this better...
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SonOfTheMask
Nov. 15, 2007, 8:27 p.m.LOL...maybe this guy scored some in order to come up with this theory! Ask him where he bought his nickel bag :)
(Do they still call them nickel and dime bags or did I just show my age a bit there?)
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canadianrancher57
Nov. 15, 2007, 8:27 p.m.I wonder if anyone else out there has noticed that through life at times we lose things and we get in a panic to find them, but just when you say "well I give up" that is the point when you find the object. It is the same thing as when you say you will sleep on it and the answer becomes clearer. The human mind is a wonderful thing and if presented with a problem and supplied with information and time it will come to a conclusion. I believe this is what happened in this case. Now comes the interesting part, he will be forced to present his idea and that means a forced line of thinking which may cloud the original idea. I wish him well for there will likely be many critics. This was an interesting read.
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ML2007
Nov. 15, 2007, 9:47 p.m.I am glad it was a surfer who found the answers to life. I was afraid it was going to be some real nerd or some such. I never have surfed myself, but I always wanted to. Good article. I hope the guy is right so we can all stop worrying about it.
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kedirian
Nov. 15, 2007, 10:58 p.m.Remember, the only lesson mankind has learned over its long and distinguished intellectual development is this: Nature reveals its secrets reluctantly and then only one at a time...Or, as my physics teacher in highschool used to say, "For every secret Man unlocks, Nature presents another one in its place!"
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Mutainia
Nov. 16, 2007, 12:14 a.m.When we solve this head-ache producer, hopefully the pay-off will be ships to take us quickly to investigate OTHER head-ache producers, like this comet we've got flaring up now as I write this.
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baddad59
Nov. 16, 2007, 12:48 a.m.It's a repug plot and i dont care if clinton did it....wait a minute....oop's wrong thread...
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Obaku
Nov. 16, 2007, 1:21 a.m.Franz Kekule, and the structure of benzene.
Kary Mullis and the DNA polymerase chain reaction.
Many of the great discoveries of science came down to one "Holy Crap!" moment, or the other alternative, "Oh $hit!!!" - that is, totally by accident.
The glue in Post-It Notes was a failed experiment. Scotchguard came from a dropped sample tube on a new pair of Keds. Photochemical reactions were discovered because an absent minded researcher left a beaker on his office window and forgot about it. The list is endless.
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wildman6557
Nov. 16, 2007, 1:33 a.m.Here is a link to a forum where Garret is actually discussing his ideas with other physicists and mathematicians. It is a hoot to read even if most of us can't really follow all the details:
http://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=1...
The general feeling is that there may be something here. Hey! This looks exciting.
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Hanyman
Nov. 16, 2007, 1:36 a.m.Sub atomic physics and quantum theory involve a great deal of mathematical modeling. Direct observation is impossible for the most part. One might be tempted to believe that it is all hogwash but quantum theory is at the root of many of our modern technologies and its predictions have proven very useful, accurate, and reliable.
This gentleman may have stumbled upon the theory of everything, or he may have simply discovered a very elegant set of equations that appear to be meaningful. String theory appears to agree with many sub atomic observations as well but it has yet to be proven. Caution is the order of the day. In science, it is fairly rare that the heretic is correct. When it happens, it is a big event and receives more attention that the more mundane and incremental achievements that are far more typical but not so romantic.
The key to proving his theory will be if the new particle accelerator can produce any of the particles that his model predicts.
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palama
Nov. 16, 2007, 5:35 a.m.He goes to Nevada during the winter? The surfs best in Hawaii during winter and there is hardly any surf during the summer there. He can go snowboarding on Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa in Hawaii and still ride the surfs during the winter. (tho, I gotta admit snowboarding way up on those heights must leave something to be desired). Auwe, brah, wassamatta wit your tinking? (So much for his theory with this kind of thinking).
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Mutainia
Nov. 16, 2007, 2:59 p.m.Until someone can come up with a great answer to the "theory of everything", the surfer dude is going to have to share room with the "JAYzus dude", in MY book. I mean, for those of you who hate the concept of the Trinity, there is a scripture that says it's Jesus Christ who is holding the universe together. "..., and by him all things consist", Colossians 1:17. :)
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aceofspades1
Nov. 16, 2007, 5:54 p.m.Just curious - anyone on this thread attending or has attended Sanford? If you have drop me a private message - thanks
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ekklesiawarrior
Jan. 5, 2008, 1:33 a.m.Telegraph:
Although the work of 39 year old Garrett Lisi still has a way to go to convince the establishment, let alone match the achievements of Albert Einstein, the two do have one thing in common: Einstein also began his great adventure in theoretical physics while outside the mainstream scientific establishment, working as a patent officer, though failed to achieve the Holy Grail, an overarching explanation to unite all the particles and forces of the cosmos.
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ekklesiawarrior
Jan. 5, 2008, 1:37 a.m.Op-Ed:
This goes to the great truth. All to often those outside the 'intelligentsia' of their day come out with great ideas.
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Submitted By:
Jordan
Hi, I'm Jordan Running. By day I write about software for Tucows.com. By night I blog at swirlee.org (sometimes), do some programming ...
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