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NEWSCIENCENEWSCIENCENEWSCIENCE His theory involved eliminating wrong quantum theory. I am further con- as a rule, be expressed in a language Newtonian mass as a primary quantity and _ vinced that Boscovich achieved unification comprehensible to everyone. substituting a kinematic basis.'* This of physics in the 18th century. means he was treating mass in the same Modern physicists are looking for a Werner Heisenberg says something way as Minkowski treated time in much more complicated theory than that — similar:'* Einstein's theory. We now talk of four- which Boscovich was describing. Even for a physicist, the description, in dimensional space-time. Boscovich was plain language, will be a criterion of treating mass as another dimension to go the degree of understanding that has alongside space and time. Wesson in 1990 been reached. discussed treating mass in this manner.'* Boscovich is thus presenting us with a The simplicity of Boscovich's th ful- boven muspesenineaceien | We have anatural |, nls Basis ton ry that has puncta (point particles), and progression from I was easily able to describe it in a few then extending the theory to a wider theory . words in this article. that has bi-punctas (two point-objects classical theory Erwin Schrédinger agrees with Einstein joined together). In the "wider" theory, development and Heisenberg on the "simplicity" punctas or points by themselves do not . matter:"” exist; instead, bi-punctas exist. By treating through Boscovich, If you cannot—in the long run—tell space, time and mass as dimensions, then an idea everyone what you have been doing, each point is defined by five dimensions, so the bi-puncta is defined by 10 dimen- sions. And with two points we can define a line: a one dimensional object. So, Boscovich had a 10-dimensional the- ory built on fundamental objects we would now call "strings", which today is called superstring theory. These bi-punctas of Boscovich are thus foreshadowing the idea of strings. We have a natural progression from classical theory development through Boscovich, an idea that is a modern con- your doing has been worthless. that is a modern contender for a "theory of everything". Now compare the complexity of modern physics based on quantum mechanics of 1925, with Boscovich's theory of the 18th century, and ask yourself which theory is easier to understand. I will give you a clue: Feynman—possibly the greatest physicist since Einstein—admits that no-one under- stands modern physics."* The choice is between a 20th-century theory that no-one understands, and an tender for a "theory of everything". 18th-century theory that has been discard- But modern physicists claim that the uni- So, how can a simpler theory be the ed. I am convinced that the 18th-century fication of physics is very difficult; they answer? Well, let me explain with afew theory wins the contest, hence the numer- have not been able to achieve it. Iam now quotes. ous problems we are experiencing in the convinced that Einstein is right: the quan- According to Einstein:'° 20th century, as highlighted in NEXUS tum theory of 1925 is wrong, and physi- Most of the fundamental ideas of sci - | Magazine. No-one properly understands cists have been trying to combine the ence are essentially simple, and may, the technology we are using. oo as a rule, be expressed in a language comprehensible to everyone. Werner Heisenberg says something similar:'° Even for a physicist, the description, in plain language, will be a criterion of the degree of understanding that has been reached. The simplicity of Boscovich's theory ful- fills the criteria of Einstein and Heisenberg. I was easily able to describe it in a few words in this article. Erwin Schrédinger agrees with Einstein and Heisenberg on the "simplicity" matter:”” If you cannot—in the long run—tell everyone what you have been doing, | your doing has been worthless. progression from classical theory development through Boscovich, van idea "theory of everything". So, how can a simpler theory be the answer? Well, let me explain with a few quotes. According to Einstein:'° Most of the fundamental ideas of sci - ence are essentially simple, and may, Endnotes success of the de Broglie-Schrédinger wave York, 1987, p. 56: Albert Einstein, from "The 1. Dictionary of Scientific Biography vol. II particle." This is implying the Boscovich Evolution of Physics”. (Charles Coulston Gillispie, editor-in-chief), theory is wrong because it does not agree with 16. ibid. Werner Heisenberg, from "Physics Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, 1970, p. quantum mechanics ideas of 1925 onwards. and Philosophy”. 326. 6. Einstein, Albert, Out of My Later Years, 17. ibid. Erwin Schrédinger, from "Science 2. ibid., p. 330. Greenwood Press, USA, 1975 (revised reprint and Humanism". 3. Lancelot Law Whyte (editor), Roger Joseph edition), © 1950, p. 97. 18. Feynman, Richard P., QED: the strange Boscovich, SJ, FRS, 1711-1787: Studies of his 7. For example: Hawking, S. A., A Brief story of light and matter, Penguin Books, USA, Life and Works on the 250th Anniversary of his History of Time, Guild Publishing, UK, 1999, 1985. Birth (foreword by Sir Harold Hartley), George __p. 12, and Stachel J. Einstein's Miraculous Allen and Unwin, UK, 1961. Year, Princeton University Press, UK, 1998, p. . 4. ibid. Ref. p. 102: "Boscovich presented a xiii. About the Author: comprehensive theory of physics based on the 8. Whyte, Roger Joseph Boscovich, ibid., p. Roger Anderton has an honours degree in maths and physics and is a former principle that all phenomena arise from the 106. ee . spatial arrangements and relative displacements 9. ibid., p. 123. telecommu nications engineer. His of identical point particles interacting by pairs 10. ibid., p. 105. published work includes Relativity under an oscillatory law determining their 11. ibid., p. 107. Investigations: Relationship between light relative accelerations. This principle in his 12. ibid. and gravity, Vol. 1 (Minerva, 1999), and theory reduced to a single law the actions 13. ibid., p. 119. "Postulates for a ten-dimensional theory" existing in nature." 14. Wesson, P. S., "Clarification of an (Speculations in Science and Technology 5. ibid. Ref. p. 102: "By an historical irony, Extended Theory of Gravity", Gen. Rel. Grav. 1994;17[4]:292-294). He has also set up a no sooner did the full significance of this 22(6):707-713. website, www.einsteinconspiracy.co.uk. principle [of Boscovich's theory] become clear 15. The World of Physics Vol. 1 (Jefferson For further information, email the author at than it was proved to be inadequate by the Hane Weaver, editor), Simon & Schuster, New —_R.J.Anderton@btinternet.com. 52 * NEXUS We have a natural that is a modern contender for a www.nexusmagazine.com AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2001