1 + 2 + 3 + ... = -1/12

[Maximilian Hohmann]

Hello!

(10-03-2018 03:42 PM)pier4r Wrote:  As an analogy one can say the same of whatever discipline, for example engineering ...

Until not so long ago physicists and engineers tried to shape their models according to reality. Real world observations usually are the basis, the model tries to explain it in terms of equations, and the extrapolations and ramifications of that model point the experienters in new directions, where they can either confirm or discard the model. A very prominent example is the trheory of relativity, many of whose predicted effects could be veryfied by experiments, some of these experiments even required dedicated satellites to be built and launched into space. The same holds for many aspects of quantum physics. Even exotic and incredible stuff like quantum entanglement can be demonstrated in experiments.

But string theory is different because most of it is way outside the physical world which is accessible to experimentation. We can not probe beyond trhe 3 or 4 dimensions of our world. We can neither verify nor falsify the claims of that theory. And because of that I call it paper science. But maybe history proves me wrong and it is actually string theory that will show us how to build a warp drive...

Saluti
Max