The Larson Research Center

For those who haven’t heard yet, a new FQXI essay contest has been announced. The subject is on the limits of physics. The question to be answered is “What’s Ultimately Possible in Physics?”

As always, this question is closely related to “What’s ultimately possible in mathematics?” The Greeks found and explored the paradoxes that these two questions lead to, but in the euphoria that comes out of our possession of advanced technology, we delude ourselves into thinking that we’ve solved the problems of thought they wrestled with.

Of course, this is not true, as Peter Lynds, in my favorite essay of the last contest, pointed out. When one recognizes the kingpin role that the enigmatic concept of the charged electron plays in our modern civilization and that the concept is so difficult to reconcile with consistent principles, we have to just sweep it under the rug like dirt that can’t be picked up.

I want to submit an essay for the contest, but the effort it would take is daunting. I’ve lost so much intellectual momentum trying to raise money that the inertia that I would have to overcome may require more energy than I can muster.

We’ll see.