Theory of everything: how progress in physics depends on asking the right questions

This article delves into why asking the right questions in a scientific field is important

When I began my undergraduate physics degree (around 20 years ago), “What is the theory of everything?” was a question that I heard often. It was used as a label for how theoretical physicists were trying to develop a deeper understanding of the elementary building blocks of our universe and the forces that govern their dynamics.

But is it a good question? Is it helpful in guiding scientists towards the discoveries that will advance our understanding to the next level? After all, good science relies on asking good questions. Or is it just “wishful thinking”?

Arguably, the question “What is the theory of everything?” reminds us that good science doesn’t have to start with the best questions. Let me explain what I mean.

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Suppose we play a game. I have a deck of cards, and each card is printed with the name and a photograph of a different animal. I choose a card, and your job is to ask questions to find out which animal I have chosen. Of course, to ask a discerning question, you first need to know something about animals.

The first time you play, you may not be familiar with which animals are in the deck, and your first question is “Does it live in the sea?”. My answer is “No,” and the game continues. Then it is your turn to pick a card. You look carefully through the deck to make your choice, and you realise that it only contains land animals. “Does it live in the sea?” seemed like a good question to start with, but it was not.

We take turns, and the more we play, the quicker we seem to figure out which card has been chosen. Why? We have become better at asking good questions.