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And in almost one hundred years, we still haven’t made much progress on the fundamental questions in quantum mechanics, other than perhaps Bell’s theorem in the

And in almost one hundred years, we still haven’t made much progress on the fundamental questions in quantum mechanics, other than perhaps Bell’s theorem in the 60s. I wonder if Einstein, Dirac, et al. would have thought in the early 1930s that the measurement problem would remain unresolved and that there would still not be a consistent theory for QM and GR almost a century later.

thenoblesunfish 5y ago
His comments about the slowing pace of scientific advancement really struck me. I have felt the same thing, often. That in 1922, we were actually somewhat close to the end of discovering all the really interesting things about physics: that is, those things which really shook up our understanding of the universe, but were still somehow comprehensible to our little human brains. I'm beginning to think that it wasn't just overenthusiasm that led me to be pretty disappointed when I went to get a PhD in science - it's that I grew up reading about the results of the most interesting period, scientifically, that man has ever had, which is now over.
- jerb 5y ago
  Scientific progress has slowed, but engineering progress is only just beginning. For instance, the electronic transport chain of respiration/photosynthesis, is a series of quantum tunnels. Man has barely scratched the surface of quantum-level control which nature already exhibits.
  - thoughtsimple 5y ago
    The number of transistors produced in 2021 is a bit mind boggling if you do the math. These are nanotechnology produced at a rate by humans that rivals any large physics number. By my calculation, Apple alone via TSMC produces something like 1x10^18 transistors per year. Add up Intel, Samsung and the rest of TSMC's customers and the number goes far higher. We are so used to it, we don't boggle at the concept any more but we should.
luis8 5y ago
The only thing I wish to see before I die is at least a way to communicate faster than light. Something instant like quantum entanglement would be ideal or if that is too much to ask at least warp like communication. I'm currently doing software engineering but when I retire I'll dedicate all my free time for this. If at least 1% of the population follow this route someone will come up with a solution eventually. Imaging exploring the near galaxies with a probe that is capable of displaying real time video of whatever is out there :)

thenoblesunfish 5y ago

His comments about the slowing pace of scientific advancement really struck me. I have felt the same thing, often. That in 1922, we were actually somewhat close to the end of discovering all the really interesting things about physics: that is, those things which really shook up our understanding of the universe, but were still somehow comprehensible to our little human brains. I'm beginning to think that it wasn't just overenthusiasm that led me to be pretty disappointed when I went to get a PhD in science - it's that I grew up reading about the results of the most interesting period, scientifically, that man has ever had, which is now over.

jerb 5y ago
Scientific progress has slowed, but engineering progress is only just beginning. For instance, the electronic transport chain of respiration/photosynthesis, is a series of quantum tunnels. Man has barely scratched the surface of quantum-level control which nature already exhibits.
- thoughtsimple 5y ago
  The number of transistors produced in 2021 is a bit mind boggling if you do the math. These are nanotechnology produced at a rate by humans that rivals any large physics number. By my calculation, Apple alone via TSMC produces something like 1x10^18 transistors per year. Add up Intel, Samsung and the rest of TSMC's customers and the number goes far higher. We are so used to it, we don't boggle at the concept any more but we should.

luis8 5y ago

The only thing I wish to see before I die is at least a way to communicate faster than light. Something instant like quantum entanglement would be ideal or if that is too much to ask at least warp like communication. I'm currently doing software engineering but when I retire I'll dedicate all my free time for this. If at least 1% of the population follow this route someone will come up with a solution eventually. Imaging exploring the near galaxies with a probe that is capable of displaying real time video of whatever is out there :)