Garrett Lisi explains his "beautiful theory of everything" in this TED talk (h/t: S at Explicitus Est Liber), where each subatomic particle is assigned to a root in the 248-dimensional E8 mathematical structure.
The first remark after his talk was "I probably understood 2% of that, but I still absolutely loved it." I have to concur, but I still wonder: Would getting a tattoo of E8 be an exceptionally geeky thing to do?
(Click to watch a gorgeous video clip of the E8 rotating.)
It's like looking into a kaleidoscope of particle physics, a mandala that represents the universe.
It gives my brain goosebumps.
links:
Wikipedia has pages on Garrett Lisi, his exceptionally simple theory of everything, and E8
Lisi's original paper (PDF)
PhysOrg.com "Mathematicians solve E8 structure"
Thanks for posting that TED video...I saw an article on Lisi about a year ago, was intrigued, and forgot to make note of it. (And then life got in the way...) When I started watching the video, I heard a little voice saying "That's the surfer/physicist with the multidimensional thing!" I once read the perfect quote for E8 (which I've been unable to track down) from a scientist who said something like this:
The closest I've been able to find is this quote from Paul Dirac:
Lisi's theory--at least to this layperson--is intriguing partly because of its beauty. I wonder if the LHC will find some of those predicted-but-not-yet-seen particles...
Awesome, awesome, awesome! Thanks for all the additional links. I'm glad you had time to look them up because I've been swamped!