True, the Standard Model does explain a very great deal. Nevertheless it is not yet a proper theory, principally because it does not satisfy the physicists naive faith in elegance and simplicity. It involves some 17 allegedly fundamental particles and the same number of arbitrary and tunable parameters, such as the fine-structure constants, the muon-electron mass ratio and the various mysterious mixing angles.

~ Sheldon L. Glashow

Sheldon L. Glashow Fine Structure Constant Fundamental Constants History Of Science Physics Theory

Some astrophysicists have convinced themselves that the fifth significant figure of the fine structure constant has changed over the past ten billion years.

~ Sheldon L. Glashow

Sheldon L. Glashow Fine Structure Constant History Of Science Physics

Tapestries are made by many artisans working together. The contributions of separate workers cannot be discerned in the completed work, and the loose and false threads have been covered over. So it is in our picture of particle physics.

~ Sheldon L. Glashow

Sheldon L. Glashow Analogy Nobel Laureate Nobel Lecture Particle Physics Physics Science Tapestry