What is it like to do theoretical physics research?

[andrew0310]

Hello everybody,

I am an undergraduate student studying computer science and I love it, especially Artificial Intelligence. I'm a curious person, so there are a lot of things that I find intriguing. But I sometimes wonder if a physics career would be more interesting, not because I don't like computer science enough, but because I'm also very curious about the Universe and all its mysteries, the nature of reality and how it all works etc.

Now here's the problem: I don't really know how is it like to do theoretical physics research (more precisely, theoretical cosmology research). And I'm sometimes afraid that I am more interested in the ideas surrounding all these mysteries than I'd be in doing research trying to answer them. I liked and did quite well at physics in high school (and at math too), but I found the physical theories, especially the mathematical part, a bit dull, a bit dry. So maybe I'm much more interested in the ideas behind the physical theories than in physics itself.

I guess the question is: what it's theoretical physics or theoretical cosmology research about? what do the researchers in these fields do and what their work consists of, beyond their online talks, conferences and what it looks like to the public eye?

 

[Dale]

I found the physical theories, especially the mathematical part, a bit dull, a bit dry

I would recommend that you keep physics as a hobby and not a career then. Nothing at all is wrong with that. It is a hobby for me too

 

[mpresic3]

These days, most theoretical physics research is done with computers. You may find that the computer science, you love would lead you to a career that is not so different in day to day activity as a career in theoretical physics. It seems that if you love what you are doing, and you are being successful, you should have a strong reason for straying from that path.

As a colleague of mine said, (although he will not own up to it), "The stars are always brighter on the other side of the great attractor"