Einstein's Dream of Unified Forces
Since Einstein, physicists have sought a unified theory to explain all the fundamental forces and particles in the universe. The result is a stunningly successful theory that reduces the complexity of microscopic physics to a set of concise laws. But these same quantum ideas fail when applied to cosmic physics. Some fundamental piece is missing; gravity, dark matter and dark energy must have quantum explanations. A new theoretical vision is required, one that embraces the Standard Model and general relativity, while resolving the mystery of dark energy. Particle accelerators provide the means to reach a unified theoretical perspective in experiments characterized by four well-defined intellectual thrusts.
