10 top reasons why biological physics is cooler than elementary particle physics
1. Biological physics: can cure cancer
Weak force: gives us cancer.
2. Biological physics makes us talk to chemists, biologists, medical
researchers, materials scientists
Elementary particle physics makes us talk to… other
elementary
particle physicists, so it really is a type of intellectual inbreeding.
3. Biological physics: Atoms, molecules, proteins, DNA
Elementary particle physics: German cottage cheese
(’quark’);
4. Biological physics: 100% of life
Elementary particle physicists: 5% of the universe,
the remaining 95% they don’t even know what it is.
5. Biological physics: Understanding of genetics, cancer, how cells
work and only costs a few million dollars
Elementary particle physics: has already cost us
many, many
billions and now they tell us that they don’t even know what 95% of the
universe is made of!
6. Darwin: Nice beard
Wilzcek: No hair, no beard.
7. Hot topics: Biological Physics: Single molecule manipulation, DNA
computers, Nanobots
Elementary Particle Physics: confirming the Standard
model for the
zillionth time, non-existing pentaquarks, unsolvable theories with no
predictions (string theory).
8. Biological Physics Promises: Cure cancer, Alzheimers, grow
replacement organs.
Elementary Particles: A few billion dollars to not
find Higgs boson.
9. Biological physics: Publish papers under your name for work
you have really done.
Elementary particles: Publish with 500 other
people for work you had nothing to do with.
10. Biological Physics students: Set up your own equipment for
experiments you designed and make interesting observations.
Elementary Particles students: Watch a
display in a big
accelerator you didn’t design and that most of the time doesn’t
do
anything interesting anyways.
BONUS:
11. Biological Physics theory: Gene maps, protein structure, single
molecule dynamics.
Elementary Particles: Penguin diagrams.