Sabine Hossenfelder

Most physicists think of beauty as the royal road to discovery; a leading critic shows it is instead the road to nowhere Whether pondering black holes or predicting discoveries at CERN, physicists believe the best theories are beautiful, natural, and elegant, and this standard separates popular theories from disposable ones. This is why, Sabine Hossenfelder argues, we have not seen a major breakthrough in the foundations of physics for more than four decades. The belief in beauty has become so dogmatic that it now conflicts with scientific objectivity: observation has been unable to confirm mindboggling theories, like supersymmetry or grand unification, invented by physicists based on aesthetic criteria. Worse, these "too good to not be true" theories are actually untestable and they have left the field in a cul-de-sac. To escape, physicists must rethink their methods. Only by embracing reality as it is can science discover the truth.

How Beauty Leads Physics Astray

Lost in Math

A contrarian scientist wrestles with the big questions that modern physics raises, and what physics says about the human condition Not only can we not currently explain the origin of the universe, it is questionable we will ever be able to explain it. The notion that there are universes within particles, or that particles are conscious, is ascientific, as is the hypothesis that our universe is a computer simulation. On the other hand, the idea that the universe itself is conscious is difficult to rule out entirely. According to Sabine Hossenfelder, it is not a coincidence that quantum entanglement and vacuum energy have become the go-to explanations of alternative healers, or that people believe their deceased grandmother is still alive because of quantum mechanics. Science and religion have the same roots, and they still tackle some of the same questions: Where do we come from? Where do we go to? How much can we know? The area of science that is closest to answering these questions is physics. Over the last century, physicists have learned a lot about which spiritual ideas are still compatible with the laws of nature. Not always, though, have they stayed on the scientific side of the debate. In this lively, thought-provoking book, Hossenfelder takes on the biggest questions in physics: Does the past still exist? Do particles think? Was the universe made for us? Has physics ruled out free will? Will we ever have a theory of everything? She lays out how far physicists are on the way to answering these questions, where the current limits are, and what questions might well remain unanswerable forever. Her book offers a no-nonsense yet entertaining take on some of the toughest riddles in existence, and will give the reader a solid grasp on what we know—and what we don’t know.

A Scientist's Guide to Life's Biggest Questions

Existential Physics

A contrarian scientist wrestles with the big questions that modern physics raises, and what physics says about the human condition
 

Not only can we not currently explain the origin of the universe, it is questionable we will ever be able to explain it. The notion that there are universes within particles, or that particles are conscious, is ascientific, as is the hypothesis that our universe is a computer simulation.  On the other hand, the idea that the universe itself is conscious is difficult to rule out entirely. 
 
According to Sabine Hossenfelder, it is not a coincidence that quantum entanglement and vacuum energy have become the go-to explanations of alternative healers, or that people believe their deceased grandmother is still alive because of quantum mechanics. Science and religion have the same roots, and they still tackle some of the same questions: Where do we come from? Where do we go to? How much can we know? The area of science that is closest to answering these questions is physics. Over the last century, physicists have learned a lot about which spiritual ideas are still compatible with the laws of nature. Not always, though, have they stayed on the scientific side of the debate. 

In this lively, thought-provoking book, Hossenfelder takes on the biggest questions in physics: Does the past still exist? Do particles think? Was the universe made for us? Has physics ruled out free will? Will we ever have a theory of everything? She lays out how far physicists are on the way to answering these questions, where the current limits are, and what questions might well remain unanswerable forever. Her book offers a no-nonsense yet entertaining take on some of the toughest riddles in existence, and will give the reader a solid grasp on what we know—and what we don’t know. 

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Do we have free will? Is the universe compatible with God? Do we live in a computer simulation? Does the universe think? Physicists are great at complicated research, but they are less good at telling us why it matters. In this entertaining and groundbreaking book, theoretical physicist Sabine Hossenfelder breaks down why we should care. Drawing on the latest research in quantum mechanics, black holes, string theory and particle physics, Existential Physics explains what modern physics can tell us about the big questions. Filled with counterintuitive insights and including interviews with other leading scientists, this clear and yet profound book will reshape your understanding of science and the limits of what we can know.

This book summarizes recent developments in the research area of quantum gravity phenomenology. A series of short and nontechnical essays lays out the prospects of various experimental possibilities and their current status. Finding observational evidence for the quantization of space-time was long thought impossible. In the last decade however, new experimental design and technological advances have changed the research landscape and opened new perspectives on quantum gravity. Formerly dominated by purely theoretical constructions, quantum gravity now has a lively phenomenology to offer. From high precision measurements using macroscopic quantum oscillators to new analysis methods of the cosmic microwave background, no stone is being left unturned in the experimental search for quantum gravity. This book sheds new light on the connection of astroparticle physics with the quantum gravity problem. Gravitational waves and their detection are covered. It illustrates findings from the interconnection between general relativity, black holes and Planck stars. Finally, the return on investment in quantum-gravitation research is illuminated. The book is intended for graduate students and researchers entering the field.

Experimental Search for Quantum Gravity

Che riflettano sull’esistenza dei buchi neri o prospettino nuove scoperte al CERN, i fisici sono convinti che le migliori teorie debbano essere belle, naturali ed eleganti. Sfortunatamente, sostiene Sabine Hossenfelder, tali requisiti sono anche il motivo per cui non c’è stato alcun progresso significativo in fisica teorica negli ultimi quarant’anni. Guidati da criteri estetici, i fisici hanno architettato nuove sbalorditive teorie, ma le osservazioni non sono state in grado di dare supporto a queste idee e, in realtà, molte di esse non sono neanche sperimentalmente accessibili. E queste teorie, “troppo belle per non essere vere”, hanno condotto l’intero campo di ricerche in un vicolo cieco. Per uscire da questa trappola, i fisici devono ripensare il modo in cui costruiscono le loro teorie. “Sedotti dalla matematica” ci ricorda che solo accettando il disordine e la complessità gli scienziati possono scoprire la verità sul nostro universo.

Come la bellezza ha portato i fisici fuori strada

Sedotti dalla matematica

Traducere de Radu Slobodeanu De o jumătate de secol, în fizica fundamentală au apărut o mulțime de idei tentante (supersimetria, corzile etc.), dar nici una n-a fost deocamdată confirmată experimental. Neavând la dispoziție noi date experimentale la energii înalte, fizicienii teoreticieni s-au lăsat călăuziți de simțul lor estetic – o teorie trebuie să fie frumoasă –, ignorând normele de obiectivitate ale cercetării științifice. Asta le reproșează în esență Sabine Hossenfelder, ea însăși fizician teoretician, dezamăgită de starea de fapt din fizica fundamentală. Rătăciți printre formule e radiografia situației actuale dintr-un domeniu al fizicii – particulele elementare și cosmologia – și, în același timp, o analiză fină a capacității noastre de a cunoaște lumea prin mijloacele abstracte ale matematicii. Din discuțiile Sabinei Hossenfelder cu mari fizicieni (Steven Weinberg, Frank Wilczek, George Ellis, Joseph Polchinski) vedem cât de subiectivi sunt în realitate oamenii de știință, cât de umană e știința, în ciuda imaginii pe care obișnuim să ne-o facem despre ea.

Sabine Hossenfelder

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