The Power of Principles: A Conversation with Nima Arkani-Hamed

One of the leading particle physics phenomenologists of his generation, Nima Arkani-Hamed, Institute for Advanced Study, is concerned with the relation between theory and experiment. His research has shown how the extreme weakness of gravity, relative to other forces of nature, might be explained by the existence of extra dimensions of space, and how the structure of comparatively low-energy physics is constrained within the context of string theory. He has taken a lead in proposing new physical theories that can be tested at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN in Switzerland.

In this fascinating conversation, Nima talks about how we discover the laws of nature, the scientific method , the time-honoured convergence of theory with experiment and how can we push our understanding well beyond where experiments can currently reach. With his unbridled enthusiasm and engaging eloquence, Nima takes us inside the world of a working theoretical physicist, sharing his frustration at some of the ways that physics is communicated to the general public while revealing how he and his colleagues hope to be steered towards the truth without experiment to guide them.