It is subtle. I probably only appreciate it because I follow Peter Woit's blog. He does an excellent job exposing/critiquing string theorists who seem to claim SuperSymmetry (SUSY) and string theory is true, regardless of what experiment says.
The poster is a nice parody of many issues that come up on Peter's blog.
I take the comment about condensed matter to be a dig at theorists who just don't get the idea of emergence and think that reductionism is the answer to everything. I also take it to be a possible dig at the AdS/CFT crowd who claim string theory is going to solve condensed matter problems; and are bemused that some of us don't share their excitement or buy into their hype.
I know Peter's blog (I saw the poster in the comments there too), it's just the joke on cond-mat physicists that I found cryptic. But your explanation makes sense. Adam
I have fun at work trying to use quantum many-body theory to understand electronic properties of complex materials.
I am married to the lovely Robin and have two adult children and a dog, Priya (in the photo). I also write an even more personal blog Soli Deo Gloria [thoughts on theology, science, and culture]
I must confess that as a cond-mat physicist I don't even get the joke...
ReplyDeleteAdam
Hi Adam,
DeleteIt is subtle. I probably only appreciate it because I follow Peter Woit's blog. He does an excellent job exposing/critiquing string theorists who seem to claim SuperSymmetry (SUSY) and string theory is true, regardless of what experiment says.
The poster is a nice parody of many issues that come up on Peter's blog.
I take the comment about condensed matter to be a dig at theorists who just don't get the idea of emergence and think that reductionism is the answer to everything. I also take it to be a possible dig at the AdS/CFT crowd who claim string theory is going to solve condensed matter problems; and are bemused that some of us don't share their excitement or buy into their hype.
Hi,
DeleteI know Peter's blog (I saw the poster in the comments there too), it's just the joke on cond-mat physicists that I found cryptic. But your explanation makes sense.
Adam