To understand the universe in the state that it began in, the so-called Big Bang, we need laws of physics that work better than our current set of rules and procedures, which break down when we try to push them back to the beginning.
Interpretation
We need improved laws of physics to comprehend the origins of the universe beyond our current understanding.
David Gross highlights the limitations of our existing physical laws when applied to the extreme conditions of the Big Bang, suggesting that to truly understand the universe's inception, we require a more refined theoretical framework. This statement emphasizes the ongoing quest in science to develop theories that can explain phenomena at the very beginning of time and the necessity for innovation in scientific thought.
In practice
In a scientific conference discussing the frontiers of physics, this quote can inspire researchers to innovate new theories.
The main reason why people should care about research in fundamental physics is the same reason they care about astronomy and cosmology. People, children, want to know what we're made out of, how it works, and why the universe is the way it is.
In the lab, we could not see or physically describe the mathematical objects that we called quarks, which we suspected were the key to unlocking the dynamics of the strong force that binds together the clump of protons and neutrons at the center of the atom.
Modern science says: 'The sun is the past, the earth is the present, the moon is the future.' From an incandescent mass we have originated, and into a frozen mass we shall turn. Merciless is the law of nature, and rapidly and irresistibly we are drawn to our doom.
In Einstein's equation, time is a river. It speeds up, meanders, and slows down. The new wrinkle is that it can have whirlpools and fork into two rivers. So, if the river of time can be bent into a pretzel, create whirlpools and fork into two rivers, then time travel cannot be ruled out.
The moment I saw the model and heard about the complementing base pairs I realized that it was the key to understanding all the problems in biology we had found intractable - it was the birth of molecular biology.
The theory of our modern technic shows that nothing is as practical as theory.
A hybrid human-robot mission to investigate an asteroid affords a realistic opportunity to demonstrate new technological capabilities for future deep-space travel and to test spacecraft for long-duration spaceflight.
The future belongs to Science. More and more she will control the destinies of the nations. Already she has them in her crucible and on her balances.
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