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Surfer dude stuns physicists with theory of everything »

Posted by: Jordan 1 year, 12 months ago

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An impoverished surfer has drawn up a new theory of the universe, seen by some as the Holy Grail of physics, which as received rave reviews from scientists. Garrett Lisi, 39, has a doctorate but no university affiliation and spends most of the year surfing in Hawaii, where he has also been a hiking guide and bridge builder.

Read Full Story at telegraph.co.uk »

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Jordan

Hi, I'm Jordan Running. By day I write about software for Tucows.com. By night I blog at swirlee.org (sometimes), do some programming ...

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Comments: 63

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capn_caveman
Nov. 15, 2007, 1:11 p.m.
When I first read the headline, I figured this was from 'The Onion'. Thankfully it was not. Very fascinating article.
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SonOfTheMask
Nov. 15, 2007, 1:16 p.m.
Neat
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CactusAnnie
Nov. 15, 2007, 1:32 p.m.
Rad article, Jordon!
Brosef, What a Cooleo, Gnarmax Ding Dong! ;D
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tdrapeau
Nov. 15, 2007, 1:33 p.m.
Whoa man, like, far out dude.
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SonOfTheMask
Nov. 15, 2007, 1:47 p.m.
Who knew Spirographs held the secrets to the universe! :)
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jimdoze
Nov. 15, 2007, 2:56 p.m.
'Holy crap, that's it!'
Now that is MY kind of physicist!!
So long "Eureka", we'll remember you fondly.
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priapism
Nov. 15, 2007, 6:17 p.m.
Great article. I've always preferred simpler explanations.
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aceofspades1
Nov. 15, 2007, 6:34 p.m.
where are all the great scientific minds that inhabit Propellor? - -Why aren't they chiming in? Could it be they are zoning out on E8?
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BronxBomber
Nov. 15, 2007, 7:43 p.m.
Now what are the odds of some surfer dude coming up with an objective scientific theory as vast as this??? I wonder if this dude grooves to the Beach Boys?
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kobzikov
Nov. 15, 2007, 7:59 p.m.
For those who are interested, here is the link to Garrett Lisi's paper: http://arxiv.org/pdf/0711.0770
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tchef
Nov. 15, 2007, 8:21 p.m.
Very interesting, over my head, but interesting.
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ConquerorWyrm
Nov. 15, 2007, 8:21 p.m.
I really need to score some better weed if I'm going to understand this better...
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canadianrancher57
Nov. 15, 2007, 8:27 p.m.
I wonder if anyone else out there has noticed that through life at times we lose things and we get in a panic to find them, but just when you say "well I give up" that is the point when you find the object. It is the same thing as when you say you will sleep on it and the answer becomes clearer. The human mind is a wonderful thing and if presented with a problem and supplied with information and time it will come to a conclusion. I believe this is what happened in this case. Now comes the interesting part, he will be forced to present his idea and that means a forced line of thinking which may cloud the original idea. I wish him well for there will likely be many critics. This was an interesting read.
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kedirian
Nov. 15, 2007, 10:58 p.m.
Remember, the only lesson mankind has learned over its long and distinguished intellectual development is this: Nature reveals its secrets reluctantly and then only one at a time...Or, as my physics teacher in highschool used to say, "For every secret Man unlocks, Nature presents another one in its place!"
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Mutainia
Nov. 16, 2007, 12:14 a.m.
When we solve this head-ache producer, hopefully the pay-off will be ships to take us quickly to investigate OTHER head-ache producers, like this comet we've got flaring up now as I write this.
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Obaku
Nov. 16, 2007, 1:21 a.m.
Franz Kekule, and the structure of benzene.
Kary Mullis and the DNA polymerase chain reaction.
Many of the great discoveries of science came down to one "Holy Crap!" moment, or the other alternative, "Oh $hit!!!" - that is, totally by accident.
The glue in Post-It Notes was a failed experiment. Scotchguard came from a dropped sample tube on a new pair of Keds. Photochemical reactions were discovered because an absent minded researcher left a beaker on his office window and forgot about it. The list is endless.
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wildman6557
Nov. 16, 2007, 1:33 a.m.
Here is a link to a forum where Garret is actually discussing his ideas with other physicists and mathematicians. It is a hoot to read even if most of us can't really follow all the details:
http://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=1...
The general feeling is that there may be something here. Hey! This looks exciting.
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Mutainia
Nov. 16, 2007, 2:59 p.m.
Until someone can come up with a great answer to the "theory of everything", the surfer dude is going to have to share room with the "JAYzus dude", in MY book. I mean, for those of you who hate the concept of the Trinity, there is a scripture that says it's Jesus Christ who is holding the universe together. "..., and by him all things consist", Colossians 1:17. :)
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aceofspades1
Nov. 16, 2007, 5:54 p.m.
Just curious - anyone on this thread attending or has attended Sanford? If you have drop me a private message - thanks
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ekklesiawarrior
Jan. 5, 2008, 1:33 a.m.
Telegraph:
Although the work of 39 year old Garrett Lisi still has a way to go to convince the establishment, let alone match the achievements of Albert Einstein, the two do have one thing in common: Einstein also began his great adventure in theoretical physics while outside the mainstream scientific establishment, working as a patent officer, though failed to achieve the Holy Grail, an overarching explanation to unite all the particles and forces of the cosmos.