Little Green Men

A Crisis at the Edge of Physics, read Marquel, TPVs NYTimes One Upon A Time Science Section correspondent. This one was a toughie. The challenge facing physics is that things have gotten so awkward, cumbersome, and unwieldy, that it has become harder and harder, and in fact, impossible, to prove theories experimentally. Now experimental proof is what defines science and distinguished it from non science, metaphysics, and pure philosophy.

But the New leading edge scientists say that they’ve reached a point where the test is no longer experimental proof but whether a theory is “elegant and explanatory.” If it is, then lack of experimental proof shouldn’t invalidate an otherwise elegantly explanatory theory.

Marquel was dissatisfied. The theories these scientists dabble in seek to combine the standard theory about which most of us are somewhat aware (electrons, bosons, small and large attractions), and quantum theory and gravity, what Einstein spent his lifetime failing to explain.

Well these guys can explain it with unprovable theory. One, for instance claims that every particle has an equal and opposite particle that we just can’t capture. But the theory explains what we can capture. Another theory posits multiple universes, none observable, but again explaining what we do observe.

A fun part of this dilemma is what to do with all the made up stuff. Since the theory works does it mean there are all these opposite particles, even if we can’t see them? Does the multiple universe theory, since it works, include the other universes as real but hard to find? Is it all like Santa Claus…or worse?

Marquel went to talk to two physicists at Princeton. One was a string theory, opposite particles partisan, the other a multiple universes fan.

“How can this be science? You’ve got all these particles, in fact twice as many as what we had before, but you can’t prove their existence.” I objected.

“That’s not true” said symmetry man, “we have proved their existence by the explanatory power of the theory which explains how everything else works. That’s pretty powerful proof.” He said.

“But you do it with these imaginary particles that no one has every captured or even seen a sign of.” I said.

“I don’t think they’re imaginary just because we can’t see them. The elegance of the theory is in its explanatory power which contradicts their imaginary state. For the theory to be true, those anti bosons and anti neutrons have to exist. Failure to observe is not synonymous with failure to exist. If we find shrunken heads in the forest we presume a tribe exists that shrinks heads. There is evidence, just not experimental evidence.” Symmetry man insisted.

“Well what about you, Mr. Multiple universes. Do you think there are green men on those universes?” I asked.

“We never mentioned green men.” He said.

“But we don’t know what’s in all these other parallel universes. Since we can’t see them, can you rule out green men?” I asked.

“No I can’t rule them out but that’s different than hypothesizing them. There is no reason to believe there are green men there.” He said.

“And no reason not to?” I asked him.

“Well there is reason not to because there’s no reason to believe so.” He said.

“But it’s possible. Green men. With mushrooms on their heads.” I provoked him.

“Possible yes.” He agreed.

“So let’s take it further. I understand both of your theories help explain the Big Bang.” I offered.

“To a certain extent. They’re explanatory and elegant.” They said in unison.

“I’ve got a theory. A few thousand years ago a Force you can’t see or experimentally demonstrate, created the heavens and the earth. And in six days the world was made and man evolved. Good theory?” I asked.

“It sounds like the bible,” Universe man said.

“Does that matter?” I asked him, “It’s explanatory of everything and…It’s elegant, isn’t it?”

“I don’t see the elegance.” He said.

“How do we judge elegance? Isn’t that a bit subjective? And there’s millions of people in the world who think it’s so elegant they’d literally die for it.” I said.

“I know where you’re going and I don’t like it,” Symmetry man said.

“But you’re wrong.” I said. “It’s not where I’m going. It’s where you’re going. Once you abandon experimental evidence, aren’t we back to Creation? Aren’t you trashing science and coming dangerously close to religion, metaphysics, and pure philosophy.?” I asked them.

They were quiet. So was I. It was as quiet as before the Creation.

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By MARQUEL: Little Green Men