A couple of mathematics items:<\/p>\n
On the string theory front:<\/p>\n
Theoretical physicist Eva Silverstein of Stanford says she disagrees that string theory-based models of inflation are in any sort of trouble. \u201cThere is no sense in which we are forced to start over,\u201d she says. She adds that in fact a separate class of theories that involve both axions and strings now look promising.<\/p>\n
Linde agrees. \u201cThere is no need to discard string theory, it is just a normal process of learning which versions of the theory are better,\u201d he says.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Update<\/strong>: Some more math<\/p>\n
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- Not just physicists, but mathematicians too can get the ridiculous headline treatment, see Number Theorist Fears All Published Math Is Wrong<\/a>.<\/li>\n
- A recent proof of the twin primes conjecture for [polynomials over<\/em>] finite fields from my Columbia colleague Will Sawin and a collaborator is the subject of a new Quanta article from Kevin Hartnett, see Big Question About Primes Proved in Small Number Systems<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Several physicists now have pieces up explaining why Sean Carroll’s claim that “the Multiverse did it” (i.e. all you have to do is believe in multiple worlds) isn’t a real solution to the measurement problem. Beside the previously mentioned Chad Orzel<\/a>, there’s also Sabine Hossenfelder<\/a> and Philip Ball<\/a>. I agree with Ball’s conclusion:<\/p>\n
Here, then, is the key point: you are not obliged to accept the \u201cother worlds\u201d of the MWI, but I believe you are obliged to reject its claims to economy of postulates. Anything can look simple and elegant if you sweep all the complications under the rug.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Update<\/strong>: A video of the discussion session at the Swampland conference is here<\/a>. It seems that I’m not the only one confused about what assumptions people working on this are making and what they are or are not accomplishing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A couple of mathematics items: Photographer Jessica Wynne has been taking photographs of mathematician’s blackboards, and there’s a story about this in the New York Times. Many of her photographs have been taken here at Columbia, where we happen to … Continue reading