What is the big idea of Physical science?

With the passage of time and the increase in accumulated knowledge, the different branches of Science emerged, among them Physics. However, one could not speak of modern science until Galileo Galilei laid the foundations of the modern scientific method. And it is not until 1687, when Isaac Newton published Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica, that the first great paradigm of Physics, known as the Newtonian paradigm, was established.

In 1905, Albert Einstien published a group of articles which, together with the principle of the quantization of energy proposed by Max Planck in 1901 and subsequent results and theories, produce a paradigm shift in Physics. Together with all this evolution of the understanding of the world that surrounds us, it has allowed us to establish that, in nature, there are only 4 fundamental interactions:

• Gravitational interaction
• Electromagnetic interaction
• Weak nuclear interaction
• Strong nuclear interaction.

Per the current standard particle system, it is possible to explain electromagnetic, weak nuclear, and strong nuclear interactions within the framework of a single theory. On the other hand, the gravitational interactions have not yet been adjusted in this framework. This is the reason why we are looking for a quantum explanation of gravity, where theories such as supergravity or string theory stand out. A first big step was taken in this direction when gravitational waves were first detected, a discovery that quickly traveled the world, although many people did not understand the meaning of this finding.

According to the postulate of Louis Victor de Broglie, every particle free of interaction has an associated wave and vice versa. Therefore, demonstrating that gravitational waves exist is the first experimental step to demonstrate that the graviton (the particle responsible for the gravitational interaction according to the standard model of particles) exists. In this way, it is possible to consolidate the great unification theory, the most persecuted idea in current Physics, that is, a single theory that is capable of explaining all the interactions existing in nature.

However, it is necessary to keep in mind that each branch of Physics has a great idea and is pursued until it is explained or discarded. This is the basis of the evolution and progress of Physics and Science in general.