Higgs and the String Theorists

Does the finding of a Higgs-like boson by experimental physicists make String Theorists unhappy since it might confirm the standard model, or are they just has happy as Particle Theorists?
- Jeff (age 60)
New York

So far as I've heard, the string theorists are pleased. There is no danger that the standard model is completely correct, since it doesn't include dark matter or any form of quantum gravity. So there's still plenty to do. What I've heard is that the string theorists would like very much for the next wave of discovery to include some supersymmetric particles, since it's difficult to have a string theory without those.

Mike W.

(published on 07/06/2012)