Is Theoretical Physics Progress Stagnating?

cbd1
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Is it just me or have we had a lack of discoveries in our theoretical physics endeavors for some long time now?

e.g. No WIMPs or other 'dark matter' particles detected with all those detectors, no Higgs particle at the LHC, no LIGO gravitational waves detected, no proofs of String theory or Loop quantum gravity, or any headway towards quantum gravity otherwise. There has been no primordial black holes evaporating.. should I go on?

What do you make of this?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
There has been much discovery in Theoretical Physics but not a lot of discoveries of theoretical ideas in experiments.
 
Actually, a negative result for a Higgs particle at the LHC would be a monumental revelation, somewhat akin to the null result for the luminiferous ether by the Michelson interferometer in the 19th century. Don't quit just because it might be a daunting task to progress the field.
 
I seem to notice a buildup of papers like this: Detecting single gravitons with quantum sensing. (OK, old one.) Toward graviton detection via photon-graviton quantum state conversion Is this akin to “we’re soon gonna put string theory to the test”, or are these legit? Mind, I’m not expecting anyone to read the papers and explain them to me, but if one of you educated people already have an opinion I’d like to hear it. If not please ignore me. EDIT: I strongly suspect it’s bunk but...
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