x.com/carl_feynman/status/2114067654491148500
1 correction found
predicts the fine structure constant to 12 digits.
The cited Chain Theory formula is presented by its author as matching the fine-structure constant to 10 significant digits, not 12. Its value diverges from CODATA’s recommended inverse fine-structure constant at the 11th significant digit.
Full reasoning
The post is referring to Alex Wissner-Gross's October 24, 2026 Chain Theory article. In that article, Wissner-Gross gives the candidate inverse fine-structure constant as 137.035999189566... and explicitly says it "matches its measured value to ten significant digits" and that it "agrees with the CODATA recommendation in its first ten significant digits."
The current CODATA/NIST recommended inverse fine-structure constant is 137.035999177(21). Comparing the two values:
- Chain Theory candidate: 137.035999189566...
- CODATA 2022 value: 137.035999177(21)
They agree through 137.0359991 (10 significant digits) and then differ at the next digit (8 vs 7). So the formula does not match or "predict" the fine-structure constant to 12 digits as claimed here.
This is a straightforward numerical mismatch, not a matter of interpretation.
2 sources
- Chain Theory - by Dr. Alex Wissner-Gross
...its first result: a parameter-free candidate for the fine-structure constant ... that matches its measured value to ten significant digits... Its inverse is 137.035 999 189 566.... The Chain Theory-derived number agrees with the CODATA recommendation in its first ten significant digits...
- CODATA Value: inverse fine-structure constant
Numerical value 137.035 999 177 ... Concise form 137.035 999 177(21) ... Source: 2022 CODATA recommended values