内容简介
本书可供广大自然科学工作者、社会科学工作者和文化界人士阅读。
这是一本破天荒的书，著名物理学家斯莫林在书中指出作为所有其他科学的基础的物理学迷失了方向。为什么物理学突然陷入了困境？我们能为它做些什么？
在斯莫林看来，一个主要问题出在弦理论：一个野心勃勃的“万物之理”的蓝图。想要解释自然的所有粒子和力，解释宇宙的起源和演化。弦理论凭它新奇的新粒子和平行宇宙抓住了公众的想象力，也赢得了很多物理学家的心。但这是理论的陷阱：弦理论没有一点曾被证实，也没人知道如何去证实它。实际上，理论出现了无限多个形式，意味着没有实验能否定它。作为一个科学理论，它失败了。但是因为它吸引了大量的资源，招揽了最优秀的头脑，严重伤害了在其他路线上追求的年轻物理学家，所以它也拖累了其他物理学的前进步伐。
——转自出版社官方网站
Overview
The book is mainly about the problems
with string theory. Lee Smolin argues that fundamental physics -- the
search for the laws of nature -- losing its way. He strongly criticizes
string theory and its prominence in contemporary theoretical physics,
that string theory has yet to come up with a single prediction that can
be verified using any technology that is likely to be feasible within
our lifetimes. Moreover, he is broadly concerned with the role of
controversy and diversity of approaches in scientific processes and
ethics.
About Lee Smolin
Born: Jun. 06, 1955
Lee Smolin is an American
theoretical physicist working mainly in the field of quantum
gravity, in particular the approach known as loop quantum gravity.
His research interests also include cosmology, elementary particle
theory, the foundations of quantum mechanics, and theoretical
biology. He's a founding member of the Perimeter Institute for
Theoretical Physics in Canada
