We live in extremely interesting times. In the 18th century Mr. Lie (pronounced Lee) was setting around in his native Norway when he decided to study symmetry using math. Thus different groupings of "Lie" began to be labeled and studied. Underlying the symmetry of normal three dimensional objects... like a ball or globe for instance is a "Lie Group". It was just a good old time for all math nerds. They kept describing bigger and more complex objects in four dimensions. Then five the six then ten then .... well, you get the picture.
Math just doesn't care how many dimensions you define. Until you hit the prime 57 that is. At that number of dimensions, the universe and math just peter out. That's all. No more dimensions. Interesting, and we have known that since 1887, more or less.
Recently math guys have combined some creative computer programming to finally map the E8 object, which is this 57 dimensional conglomerate of dimensions that SEEMS to be the inclusive set of all possible in any universe.
And to make it worse, a surfer guy who doesn't have a place to sleep at nights (well.... except for home-made yurts made out of palm fronds) has startled the world with an extremely easy to understand Theory Of Everything. And even worse! You don't really need math to understand it. What in the heck is going on in this universe!?
http://sifter.org/~aglisi/
What do you think? I find this stuff just very, very entertaining. I ain't smart enough to render an opinion... other than I don't like sleeping on the sand!
And this site is fun. If just for the music.
http://motls.blogspot.com/2007/11/exceptionally-simple-theory-of.html
The history of science is replete with instances of fraud and attempts at shortcutting the process in hope of fame.
This is the first chance that I have had... personally to set on the sideline and watch such a battle unfold.
On the one side we have an entire network -- consisting of an anarchist PHD with his buddynet in support. He is pitted against "The Establishment". You know... those old farts who refused to look through the telescope because it would bring them into conflict with the church?
Or at least that is what one is led to suspect. But then there is this little matter of peer review and process. How SHOULD the establishment deal with someone who MAYBE has made a discovery of value and refutes their normal methodology?
I just wish I knew more math. As near as I can tell after studying the PDF of the actual theory, it SEEMS to contain defining mechanisms for all particles, forces -- space/time and in addition seems to allow for curvature and action definitions -- ALL WITHIN geometry. Or at least within geometry and Riemannian geometry.
I really like his 8 dimensional definition of the tsg frame. (time/space/gravitation)
Too bad that it might be just another in a long line of frauds... whether through deliberation or incompetence.
Then again, what if it turns out to be good science? Then it would be exciting as all get out to be watching it all unfold.
If you were to have had a seat in Newtons drawing room... a fly on the wall... would you have sat there and watched? We live in fun times.