Author Archives: woit

Are There Cosmic Microwave Anomalies?

Posted on January 28, 2010 by woit

No. The WMAP team has just released a new set of papers based upon seven years of data from their experiment. For a summary of how this new data has sharpened some of their previous results, see the Cosmological Interpretation … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 13 Comments

LHC Update

Posted on January 27, 2010 by woit

Those responsible for the LHC machine are having their yearly meeting this week in Chamonix to discuss the state of the project and plans for the future. Last week a subgroup met to discuss plans for beam commissioning to 3.5 … Continue reading →

Posted in Experimental HEP News | 13 Comments

Physics of the Universe Summit

Posted on January 26, 2010 by woit

The New York Times today reports on a Physics of the Universe Summit held a week or so ago in LA. According to the Times, participants stayed at “a Hollywood hotel known long ago as the ‘Riot Hyatt,’ for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 9 Comments

Various and Sundry

Posted on January 21, 2010 by woit

The latest New Scientist has an article about Erik Verlinde’s “entropic gravity”, with enthusiastic remarks from Robbert Dijkgraaf and Stanley Deser. Gerard ‘t Hooft expresses pleasure at seeing a string theorist talking about “real physical concepts like mass and force, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 17 Comments

Big Think

Posted on January 18, 2010 by woit

A little while ago I did an interview for Big Think, and they just put it up here today, with some editorial comment here. I really don’t like watching or listening to myself, so I’m not about to go through … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 17 Comments

Particle Theory in Midtown

Posted on January 17, 2010 by woit

Particle theory is about to have a significantly higher profile in midtown Manhattan, with the launch of two new programs this spring: The CUNY Graduate Center at 34th St. is starting up an Initiative for the Theoretical Sciences, with a … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Templeton Foundation News

Posted on January 15, 2010 by woit

The Simons Foundation isn’t the only one announcing funding opportunities in math and physics. The Templeton Foundation’s list of funding priorities for 2010 is here, with applications opening February 1. In math and physics the topics they want to support … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 7 Comments

Iranian Theoretical Physicist Assassinated

Posted on January 12, 2010 by woit

An Iranian theoretical physicist named Masoud Alimohammadi was assassinated in Teheran Tuesday. Alimohammadi’s publication list indicates that he began his career specializing in conformal field theory, and more recently had been working on questions in general relativity. Initial news reports … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 20 Comments

The Entropy Decade

Posted on January 11, 2010 by woit

We’re only a week and a half into the new decade, but already I’m seeing a trend… A few days ago Sean Carroll’s book From Eternity to Here came out, promoting the idea that understanding time and cosmology is all … Continue reading →

Posted in Multiverse Mania | 30 Comments

Simons Foundation News

Posted on January 8, 2010 by woit

The latest AMS notices has the news that the Simons Foundation is now spending about $40 million/year in mathematics and related theoretical fields. This is being done under a program being run by David Eisenbud at Berkeley, and the first … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 15 Comments