Will the LHC be able to test String Theory? (Synopsis)

A few weeks ago, Amanda Peet gave a public lecture that we live-blogged here. In the Q&A part after the talk, she made a statement that I sort of glossed over: that the LHC was able to verify some of the predictions of String Theory. In my head, I thought, "yeah, all the predictions that the Standard Model itself made, and nothing more." And I let it go.

Image credit: © WGBH Educational Foundation, via http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/physics/conversation-with-brian-greene.html. Image credit: © WGBH Educational Foundation, via http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/physics/conversation-with-brian-greene.html.

But maybe it's time to ask that question for real: will the LHC be able to test String Theory? And if so, how? This is a question that -- quite honestly -- was a little beyond what I knew how to do, so I called in an expert from among our contributors: Sabine Hossenfelder.

Here's her answer, and the amazing story of whether the LHC will be able to test String Theory!

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Another great article by Sabine! Wish she was at Perimeter talking more on LQG instead of Lego-land lecture. Loop Quntum Gravity.... which for reasons unknown to me, is sadly never covered on this blog.

By Sinisa Lazarek (not verified) on 27 May 2015 #permalink

Love the Sabine articles and also vote for something on LQG. Ethan has given more time to MOND and he hates MOND.

Considering that I get much of my knowledge of theoretical physics from this blog, and the fact that I really don't know very much about LQG, I would also not mind seeing an article or two about it. Of course, that just may not be Ethan's area of expertise and he may not have a guest columnist willing to take on such an article, so I fully understand if such an article doesn't appear.

The trick with getting Ethan to write about a particular subject is to approach it from another angle.
That angle would be his significant other Jamie . If not for her, we may not even have articles/thoughts from Ethan on String Theory here on his Blog at all.
http://scienceblogs.com/startswithabang/2008/04/14/q-a-on-string-theory/

So if you want a post from Ethan on LQG, I would appeal to the higher authority.

As Voltaire said:
"All the reasonings of men are not worth one sentiment of women. "

By Ragtag Media (not verified) on 27 May 2015 #permalink

Thank you Sabine for a logical look at string theory. I think SUSY is running out of places to hide!
PS let's have a LQG article ;-)

By david hurn (not verified) on 27 May 2015 #permalink

sabine, what is your views on LQG?