Friday, November 16, 2007

Grand Unified Theory?

Four fundamental forces have long been recognized in physics: the electromagnetic force, the strong nuclear force (that keeps atomic nuclei together), the weak nuclear force (that is behind radioactivity), and gravity. So far, physicists have managed to produce a "Standard Model" that unifies the electromagnetic and weak forces into the electroweak force. But so far, gravity has eluded all attempts to fit into the theory. The elusive search for a means to unify all four forces into a "Grand Unified Theory" is often called the "Holy Grail" of theoretical physics.

Now, a physicist-turned-surfer thinks he may have hit upon an elegant solution based on a complex but highly symmetrical mathematical pattern. Read more here. I recommend watching the animation of the pattern's rotation even if the math eludes you (as it does me!).

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