Even quantum mechanics is a provisional theory: Roger Penrose
# He was delivering the NIT convocation address
# Says the Big Bang, in a certain sense, is not the beginning
PHOTO SUSHANTA PATRONOBISH
Mathematician Sir Roger Penrose and BARC director S. Banerjee at the second convocation of the National Institute of Technology in Durgapur on Saturday.
DURGAPUR: For renowned mathematician and physicist Sir Roger Penrose, it is a depressing thought that we may be close to the Theory of Everything that will explain all the mysteries associated with the universe, down to the minutest detail.
'A final theory, if it comes, must have beauty and simplicity — something that I have not yet come across,' he said, while delivering the convocation address at the second convocation of the National Institute of Technology (NIT) here on Saturday.
Hailing from a distinguished family of scientists and mathematicians, Sir Roger had been playing with geometrical objects from the age of 10, said Bikash Sinha, Chairman of the Board of Governors, NIT, while introducing the former.
Controversial views
Known for his controversial views on the relation between physics and consciousness,
Sir Roger came across as one who did not venerate established ideas. 'Even quantum mechanics is a provisional theory, which has to be replaced by a great theory,' he said.
'This is not just my own contention. It has also been stated by Einstein, Schrodinger and Dirac.'
While asking the graduating students to challenge the conceptual basis of established theories and advance alternate world views, he said his own ideas about the Big Bang, the singularity supposed to mark the beginning of time, had considerably changed.
'The Big Bang, in a certain sense, is not the beginning,' he said, adding 'the big final stage may also be the initial stage — when there is only radiation left and the universe loses track of its scale.' It has to be mathematically proved though.
Explaining through fun
Sir Roger, famous for the Penrose tiling, said there was no clear demarcation between scientific work and fun.
He often found that it was often easier to explain with simple diagrams what could not be explained by complex calculations.
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