Hacker News Reader

I'm curious why you call the string theory a debacle.

From what I followed, the debacle was rather with supersymmetry. And even though, the research in this domain stimulated the development of new mathematical tools.

Finally, as with all failed research, it would have been pretty hard to rule it out without trying to search it before, so this negative result is as much positive result in favor of rival theories.

(maybe super-asymmetry ;)

View on HN

Probably because for the amount of time and money its absorbed it seems to produce very little of value in terms of applications, it's hard to perform real experiments with, and string theory and high energy particle collision physics both absorb the vast majority of grant money - and by extension - make it harder to do work in physics that doesn't pay homage to those two large bodies or continue that work.

Also generations of students stuck in this hole because the supervisors that have paid positions stick to string theory deadend -- a feedback loop.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com