Author Archives: woit

There Are No Laws of Physics. There’s Only the Landscape.

Posted on June 4, 2018 by woit

At Quanta magazine, IAS director and string theorist Robbert Dijkgraaf has signed up to the multiverse mania bandwagon with an article announcing There are no laws of physics. There’s only the landscape. Dijkgraaf’s version of the string landscape ideology is: … Continue reading →

Posted in Multiverse Mania | 19 Comments

Feynman at 100

Posted on May 29, 2018 by woit

The past month has seen quite a few events and articles celebrating the 100th anniversary of Richard Feynman’s birth (see for example here, here, here and here). Feynman was one of the great figures of twentieth century physics, with a … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 57 Comments

When Einstein Walked With Gödel

Posted on May 28, 2018 by woit

Jim Holt has a new book out, a collection of essays entitled When Einstein Walked with Gödel. I wrote enthusiastically about his last book (Why Does the World Exist?) here and, if you have any interest at all in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews | 3 Comments

This and That

Posted on May 21, 2018 by woit

I’ve been trying to find time to write about some books I’ve been reading. Maybe later this week. In the meantime, some things that may be of interest: This week in Norway there will be various events in celebration of … Continue reading →

Posted in Langlands, Uncategorized | 16 Comments

US HEP Budget News

Posted on May 14, 2018 by woit

There’s a HEPAP meeting today, with news about the US HEP budget situation, presentations here. Since the 2016 election physicists have been worried about how the Republican Congress and Trump administration will treat scientific research in general and physics research … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 15 Comments

This Week’s (Stale) Hype

Posted on May 2, 2018 by woit

The usual hype machine is at work this week, with the usual mechanism: University press offices and grant agencies put out irresponsible hype about the work of one their faculty or grantees. In this case, it’s Taming the multiverse: Stephen … Continue reading →

Posted in Fake Physics, Multiverse Mania | 10 Comments

Physics News

Posted on April 30, 2018 by woit

Various physics-related news: The LHC is back in business doing physics, with intensity ramp-up for the 2018 run ongoing. Today the machine is colliding 1551 bunches of protons, ultimate goal is to get to 2556 bunches. They are at least … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 10 Comments

Losing the Nobel Prize

Posted on April 19, 2018 by woit

There’s a fascinating new book just now appearing in book stores, Losing the Nobel Prize, by astronomer Brian Keating. An excerpt from the book is available at Nautilus, with the title How My Nobel Dream Bit the Dust. Some reviews … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews | 39 Comments

Math News

Posted on April 12, 2018 by woit

Various mathematics-related news: The Perimeter Institute has been moving towards an increased engagement with mathematics and mathematicians in recent years. Matilde Marcolli and Ben Webster are now joining them as Associate Faculty. Quanta magazine has an excellent article by Kevin … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 20 Comments

Are We In the Swampland?

Posted on April 5, 2018 by woit

Way back in 2005, soon after the emergence of the “String Landscape” and the ensuing debate over whether this made string theory untestable pseudo-science, Cumrun Vafa in response started writing about the “Swampland”. In contrast to the “Landscape” of effective … Continue reading →

Posted in Swampland | 21 Comments