Somebody named Garrett Lisi, 39, just published a new so-called “Theory of Everything,” a scientific explanation of how all particles and forces are united in the universe.
Such a theory has been the Holy Grail of physics ever since science first started to unravel the mysteries of the sub-atomic world. Einstein spent his whole life trying to figure it out. If Lisi is right, the answer lies in some bizarre shape called an E8, a complex eight-dimensional mathematical pattern with 248 points. Apparently, the image below is the shape of the universe if you could represent it in only two dimensions.
What’s awesome about all this is Lisi is a ski bum who spends most of his time surfing and snowboarding. He’s also totally broke: “Being poor sucks,” Lisi says. “It’s hard to figure out the secrets of the universe when you’re trying to figure out where you and your girlfriend are going to sleep next month.”
I guess his knack for advanced particle physics does not extend to web design. Take a look at his personal website. He writes about surfing, snowboarding, and downhill skateboarding. You can also read his resume. Here is a picture of him playing chess with a naked guy at Burning Man.
I’m no grand master, but I’m a decent chess player (though I like Go better) and the chances of encountering a person at random who can beat me is not very high. Now this naked guy here, just another person wandering around the playa, he kicked my ass. It was a solid game, no obvious blunders, I was simply outplayed.
Amazing! If this guy turns out to be right, imagine how cool whoever this naked guy must feel. What a story it would be if you beat somebody as smart as Einstein in chess. Naked!
LINKS:
Surfer dude stuns physicists with theory of everything (Article)
An Exceptionally Simple Theory of Everything (Scientific Paper)
