"Paul Di Filippo - Our Feynman Who Art in Heaven" - читать интересную книгу автора (Di Filippo Paul)

protons, leptons. Photons, gravitons and Higgs bosons. At least we think
there are some Higgs bosons presentтАФno oneтАЩs ever quite seen one. But
in any case, they mingle in a kind of undifferentiated cosmic soup, akin to
the universal cosmic state some time after the Big Bang. Then, gradually,
they settle out into atoms and molecules.тАЭ

I observed the chaotic scene for a while. It resembled recess at a
Montessori school. Then I asked, тАЬCan I see the next stage too, please?тАЭ

Nick waved me off. тАЬOh, itтАЩs very boring at that point, IтАЩm afraid. After
the phase change, itтАЩs all mere chemistry and biology.тАЭ

тАЬDo you mind if I interview another Majoranist?тАЭ

тАЬWell, most of my co-religionists are very energetic at this stage, but
youтАЩre welcome to try.тАЭ

I approached several candidates, but they all ignored me and raced
off, hither and thither. Nick laughed at my efforts.

тАЬGood luck capturing a neutrino! They donтАЩt interact with anyone! We
neutrons are about the only ones who are slow and solid enough to conduct
a conversation.тАЭ
 So I sought out another Majoranist wearing a lowercase тАЬnтАЭ and
interviewed her. She confirmed everything that Nick had told me.

The tumult of the Majoranist тАЬserviceтАЭ was giving me a headache. I
asked Nick if we could adjourn to the reception area, and he agreed.

Back in the anteroom, alone with Nick, I said, тАЬIt seems as if your
church features no hierarchy. DonтАЩt you have leaders of any sort? Wise
men and women who decide matters of doctrine?тАЭ

тАЬWhy, yes, we do. The Constants.тАЭ

тАЬThe Constants?тАЭ

тАЬThe Standard Model acknowledges several universal constants. The
speed of light in a vacuum, the fine-structure constant, NewtonтАЩs
gravitational constant. Then there are the ones named after Planck, Dirac,
Boltzmann, Bohr, von Klitzing, Josephson, Fermi, and others.тАЭ

тАЬYouтАЩre saying that certain Majoranists attain the rank of Constant
then?тАЭ

NickтАЩs face acquired a dreamy, reverential look, like that of a teenager
coming face-to-face with a pop idol. тАЬYes. ItтАЩs a status all of us aspire to.
But although many are called, few are chosen.тАЭ

тАЬWell, I believe IтАЩve learned enough to write a feature on your church.