- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
re: Is chasing Theoretical Physics a waste of time if you’re not brilliant?
Posted on 12/29/25 at 10:10 am to The Silverback
Posted on 12/29/25 at 10:10 am to The Silverback
Practical answer, get certified to teach math and physics, find a HS that needs a teacher, teach, start a physics club, find some grants to do research over the summer, see where that takes you.
0
Posted on 12/29/25 at 10:16 am to The Silverback
quote:
I’ve been a self-studying student of physics and over the last year I visited Harvard, Princeton and MIT (and got to meet my favorite physics professor of all time). But I feel I don’t have “it”
Can anyone with experience give their thoughts?
Can you solve algebraic equations exactly using the W Lambert function when required? If your answer is yes, you probably "have it".
Posted on 12/29/25 at 11:04 am to The Silverback
How rich are you and your family?
How many professorships are out there in that specialty?
Self study is one thing, becoming a student competing with others is a whole different world and they are also going to compete for the same jobs.
Jobs are necessary to clothe, feed and house you.
Can you even be accepted to a Masters program? Forget the PhD until you have immersed yourself in that world.
You can stumble for a year or two, but don't throw away half a decade of your twenty something life.
How many professorships are out there in that specialty?
Self study is one thing, becoming a student competing with others is a whole different world and they are also going to compete for the same jobs.
Jobs are necessary to clothe, feed and house you.
Can you even be accepted to a Masters program? Forget the PhD until you have immersed yourself in that world.
You can stumble for a year or two, but don't throw away half a decade of your twenty something life.
Posted on 12/29/25 at 3:21 pm to The Silverback
(no message)
This post was edited on 12/29/25 at 3:27 pm
Posted on 12/29/25 at 4:01 pm to The Silverback
It’s odd that I came across this thread. I consider myself a fairly intelligent person. This past weekend at a Christmas party with friends my best friend and host invited a new couple that had moved into the neighborhood. The husband is a PHD physicist and helps run that research facility in Denham Springs, Liggo (sp) or something like that. Anyway he was trying to explain the research to us and I maybe understood 20% of what he was saying 
super nice guy from Australia and not socially awkward at all.
super nice guy from Australia and not socially awkward at all. 
Posted on 12/29/25 at 4:23 pm to The Silverback
We need more information. What's your goal? Hobby? Trying to make it a career? What's your current and planned education level?
Your age also plays a role. If you're 50 years old and just getting started, it's probably not a great use of your time unless you have a doctorate in a related field already.
Your age also plays a role. If you're 50 years old and just getting started, it's probably not a great use of your time unless you have a doctorate in a related field already.
Posted on 12/29/25 at 4:30 pm to BOSCEAUX
quote:
helps run that research facility in Denham Springs, Liggo (sp)
Your boy is detecting gravitational ripples in space time. Elite level of physics nerdery.
Posted on 12/29/25 at 5:01 pm to GRTiger
quote:
Your boy is detecting gravitational ripples in space time. Elite level of physics nerdery.
Dude was wicked smaht!!
Posted on 12/29/25 at 5:16 pm to BOSCEAUX
It proved that gravitational waves travel at the speed of light.
So if the Sun just disappeared, it would take 8 minutes for the Earth to stop traveling in an orbit and go off in a straight line.
I’m an armchair physicist just as a hobby. No formal training. Just read books and YouTube videos.
So if the Sun just disappeared, it would take 8 minutes for the Earth to stop traveling in an orbit and go off in a straight line.
I’m an armchair physicist just as a hobby. No formal training. Just read books and YouTube videos.
This post was edited on 12/29/25 at 5:20 pm
Posted on 12/29/25 at 5:33 pm to The Silverback
Do it baw, Science is a cumulative human project. Even if your papers are absolute shite, someone may cite them just to show how wrong you are and inadvertently discover something new and interesting.
Posted on 12/30/25 at 10:28 am to UptownJoeBrown
quote:
It proved that gravitational waves travel at the speed of light.
So if the Sun just disappeared, it would take 8 minutes for the Earth to stop traveling in an orbit and go off in a straight line.
I’m an armchair physicist just as a hobby. No formal training. Just read books and YouTube videos.
I couldn't sleep last night, so I listened to an old Feynman lecture on The Law of Gravitation at Cornell.
Page 4 of 4
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News