This is a list of some of the major unsolved problems in physics . Some of these problems are theoretical, meaning that existing theories seem incapable of explaining a certain observed phenomenon or experimental result. The others are experimental, meaning that there is a difficulty in creating an experiment to test a proposed theory or investigate a phenomenon in greater detail.

Notation

Some problems are not considered significant enough by some physicists. If so, they are marked as follows:

Theoretical problems

The following problems are either fundamental theoretical problems, or theoretical ideas which lack experimental evidence and are in search of one, or both, as most of them are. Some of these problems are strongly interrelated. For example, extra dimensions or supersymmetry may solve the hierarchy problem. It is thought that a full theory of quantum gravity should be capable of answering most of these problems (other than the Island of stability problem).

Quantum gravity, cosmology, and general relativity

High energy physics

Other problems

Empirical phenomena lacking clear scientific explanation

Cosmology and Astronomy

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Condensed matter physics

Biological problems approached with physics

These fields of research normally belong to biology, and traditionally were not included in physics but are included here because increasingly it is physicists who are researching them using methods and tools more popular in physics research than biology.

Problems recently solved

References

  1. ^ Alan Sokal (July 22, 1996), Don't Pull the String Yet on Superstring Theory , New York Times , http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0DE7DB1639F931A15754C0A960958260  
  2. ^ Joshi, Pankaj S. (January 2009), "Do Naked Singularities Break the Rules of Physics?", Scientific American , http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=naked-singularities  
  3. ^ Open Questions, Particle Physics, item 12
  4. ^ a b c 13 things that do not make sense newscientistspace, 19 March 2005, Michael Brooks
  5. ^ Open Questions, Particle Physics, item 6
  6. ^ Open Questions item 4
  7. ^ Open Questions, Cosmology and Astrophysics, item 11
  8. ^ Open Questions, Particle Physics, item 13
  9. ^ newscientistspace item 8
  10. ^ Open Questions, Cosmology and Astrophysics, item 12
  11. ^ newscientistspace item 3
  12. ^ Anahad O’Connor (Tuesday, August 12, 2008), The debate continues... , Deccan Herald , http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Aug122008/snt2008081184001.asp  
  13. ^ Open Questions, Condensed Matter and Nonlinear Dynamics, item 2
  14. ^ Open Questions, Condensed Matter and Nonlinear Dynamics
  15. ^ The Nobel Prizes in Physics 1901-2000
  16. ^ The Office of Science - What is Physics?

External links

  • What don't we know? Science journal special project for its 125th anniversary: top 25 questions and 100 more.
  • Physics News Update A weekly physics news bulletin hosted by the American Institute of Physics.
  • Open Questions in Physics
  • New Scientist: 13 things that do not make sense.
  • List of links to unsolved problems in physics, prizes and research.
  • Ideas Based On What We’d Like To Achieve
  • 2004 SLAC Summer Institute: Nature's Greatest Puzzles
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