3 ms·

> The last time we found something that was predicted by the Standard Model was 1983, wasn't it? That's 40 years. IANAPhysicist so correct me if I'm wrong but

• hinkley 4y ago
  Also not a physicist, but I think the distinction being made here is that Higgs et al explained existing phenomenon that did not make sense within the existing theory, and oh by the way if we're correct we've also created a hole in the standard model where a particle exists with certain properties that were a bit nebulous. For instance special relativity explains gravitational lensing and predicted that frame dragging would also be discovered, but also explained other problems. The theories that make a physicist's day seem to tie the past to the present and the present to the future: This happened, we don't know why. Here's a theory that explains those measurements. Here's a prediction we can test now/with a billion dollars that will corroborate my theory, and here are some new consequences of the theory that require <future tech> to be sure that this is 'true' instead of an accident of math. Like atomic clocks or giant particle accelerators.
  • staunton 4y ago
    > special relativity explains gravitational lensing You mean general relativity