In an exclusive interview with Stephen Hawking at 70, New Scientist (January 4, 2012) offers
NS: What discovery would do most to revolutionise our understanding of the universe?
SH: The discovery of supersymmetric partners for the known fundamental particles, perhaps at the Large Hadron Collider. This would be strong evidence in favour of M-theory. [multiverse theory]
NS: The search for supersymmetric particles is a major goal of the LHC at CERN. The standard model of particle physics would be completed by finding the Higgs boson, but has a number of problems that would be solved if all known elementary particles had a heavier “superpartner”. Evidence of supersymmetry would support M-theory, the 11-dimensional version of string theory that is the best stab so far at a “theory of everything”, uniting gravity with the other forces of nature.
Uh, among other things … including putting an end to science.
Note: Intel is exploring ways to help Hawking, who has battled motor neurone disease for nearly half a century, communicate. Any success will help many others as well.
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