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183 | Michael Dine on Supersymmetry, Anthropics, and the Future of Particle Physics

Feb 7, 2022

Michael Dine, a distinguished professor of physics at UC Santa Cruz, shares his insights on the intricate world of particle physics. He discusses the conundrum of strong theories that lack experimental backing, particularly supersymmetry and the implications of the Higgs boson. The conversation dives into the anthropic principle and the complexities of cosmic laws that enable life. Dine raises intriguing questions about the future of particle physics, emphasizing the need for innovative thinking in a field that's at a standstill despite its successes.

01:39:43

Episode guests

Michael Dine

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Episode notes

Intro

6min

Current Landscape of Particle Physics

17min

Exploring Expectations in Particle Physics After the Higgs Boson

3min

Cosmic Conundrums: Life and the Universe

12min

Exploring Green Flags in Relationships and Complex Interactions

2min

Exploring Life and the Universe's Complexity

13min

Exploring Supersymmetry and Beyond in Particle Physics

2min

Skepticism in Particle Physics: The Limits of Theory and Empirical Constraints

2min

Exploring Grand Unification and Supersymmetry in Particle Physics

6min

10.

Exploring Theories in Particle Physics

22min

11.

Exploring Parity Violation and String Theory

19min

Modern particle physics is a victim of its own success. We have extremely good theories — so good that it’s hard to know exactly how to move beyond them, since they agree with all the experiments. Yet, there are strong indications from theoretical considerations and cosmological data that we need to do better. But the leading contenders, especially supersymmetry, haven’t yet shown up in our experiments, leading some to wonder whether anthropic selection is a better answer. Michael Dine gives us an expert’s survey of the current situation, with pointers to what might come next.

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Michael Dine received his Ph.D. in physics from Yale University. He is Distinguished Professor of Physics at the Santa Cruz Institute for Particle Physics, University of California, Santa Cruz. Among his awards are fellowships from the Sloan Foundation, Guggenheim Foundation, American Physical Society, and American Academy of Arts and Sciences, as well as the Sakurai Prize for theoretical particle physics. His new book is This Way to the Universe: A Theoretical Physicist’s Journey to the Edge of Reality.

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