The word 'universe' is obviously not intended to have a plural, but science has evolved in such a way that we need a plural noun for something similar to what we ordinarily call our universe.
Extra dimensional theories are sometimes considered science fiction with equations. I think that's a wrong attitude. I think extra dimensions are with us, they are with us to stay, and they entered physics a long time ago. They are not going to go away.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Extra dimensions are a legitimate aspect of physics, often dismissed as speculative, but they have been part of scientific discourse for a long time.
This quote by Leonard Susskind emphasizes the important role that extra-dimensional theories play in the field of physics, arguing against the common perception that they are purely speculative or fictional. He asserts that these theories are integral to understanding the universe and have been established within the scientific framework for some time, suggesting that they are not fleeting ideas but rather vital components that will remain in scientific discussions.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a lecture on theoretical physics, one could use this quote to highlight the significance of extra dimensions.
More from Leonard Susskind
All quotes →A lot of my research time is spent daydreaming - telling an imaginary admiring audience of laymen how to understand some difficult scientific idea.
Man - life in general - seems irrelevant to the workings of the universe: a mere smudge of water, grease, and carbon on a pinpoint planet circling a star of no special consequence.
I was going to engineering school but fell in love with physics.
Why is there space rather than no space? Why is space three-dimensional? Why is space big? We have a lot of room to move around in. How come it's not tiny? We have no consensus about these things. We're still exploring them.
Similar quotes
In a lot of scientists, the ratio of wonder to skepticism declines in time. That may be connected with the fact that in some fields-mathematics, physics, some others-the great discoveries are almost entirely made by youngsters.
(On the energy radiated by the Sun) It's four hundred million million million million watts. That is a million times the power consumption of the United States every year, radiated in one second, and we worked that out by using some water, a thermometer, a tin, and an umbrella. And that's why I love physics.
Sometimes the probabilities are very close to certainties, but they're never really certainties
Many of the problems facing the nation and the world today may only be solved if their technical elements are understood - climate change, energy supply, health care, and infrastructure, to name just a few.
Companies are the first to see the costs of climate change.
I am an enthusiast, but not a crank in the sense that I have some pet theories as to the proper construction of a flying machine. I wish to avail myself of all that is already known and then, if possible, add my mite to help on the future worker who will attain final success.