Is Fundamental Physics too Theory-led?

What’s the Latest Development?

To some the Large Hadron Collider is a disproportionate investment of time, money and expertise. But Jon Butterworth says it is genuinely exploring new territory for whatever might be there. The energy frontier remains a frontier of knowledge. 

What’s the Big Idea?

While big ideas like supersymmetry or extra dimensions have not been disproved (yet), many many options for them have been closed off. “Many of us have our favourite theories, but in the end the data decide, and as an experimentalist I am seriously enjoying making myriad bright ideas face the music. We have waited a long time, theorising and guessing. Now, at last, we are able to look at some more of the answers.”