DailyDirt: Crackpots Versus Real Scientists
from the urls-we-dig-up dept
Over a hundred years ago, Albert Einstein published what would become his theory of special relativity, and since then, there have been quite a few experiments that support Einstein's ideas. That's the way science usually works. A- Vinay Deolalikar posted his "proof" that P!=NP a few years ago, but it didn't quite stand up to the scrutiny of some mathematicians -- and you, too, can dismiss an extraordinary proof by watching out for a few telltale signs. It's hard to refute everyone who claims to have a P!=NP proof, but there's a roadmap for how to avoid wasting other mathematicians' valuable time. [url]
- A. Garrett Lisi has a grand unifying theory of the universe, but maybe he should stick to surfing. Lisi's TEDtalk is amazingly devoid of physics, but the Large Hadron Collider may have the final say about whether "E8" provides any unique insights on the universe. [url]
- In 2012, Japanese mathematician Shinichi Mochizuki posted 500+ pages (on the internet!) that "might" prove the ABC Conjecture. Mochizuki refuses to discuss his proof, and so far, no one else has really been able to tell him he's wrong. [url]
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Filed Under: abc conjecture, crowdsourcing, e8, grand unifying theory, gut, math, p=np, proof, science
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Re: Theory and hypothises
Hence, "the theory of quantum mechanics" is still only a theory not a law. Hence, "Wave/particle theory" is still only a theory not a law. Hence, "The Special Theory of Relativity" is still only a theory and not a law.
For anything to become a "law" in science requires some very special considerations. It is in effect very hard to generate a new law in science.
The general order of events is the following
Observations -(lead to)-> hypothesis -(leads to)-> further observations and tests -(leads to)-> possible change to hypothesis (and cycle) -(leading to)-> formulation of theory -(leading to)-> possible predictions -(leading to)-> observations -(leading to)-> validation of theory possibility -(leading to)-> further changes in theory/new tests/new hypotheses (and cycle)
This is scientific method 101
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