Too Much String

The speaker discusses the rise of string theory and their decision to avoid studying it due to the rapid pace of publications by young researchers. They share a story about receiving a postcard from Ander Strawminger, a string theorist, from a remote location in China, highlighting the global spread of string theory. The speaker explains that string theory is popular because it is inexpensive to pursue, leading to many jobs but also an oversaturation of theorists. They express concern that only a fraction of the 10,000 string theorists worldwide are making significant contributions, creating a precarious situation for the rest.

What was the significance of the postcard from Ander Strawminger?

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What social problem does the speaker associate with string theory?

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