In my perspective, high-impact fundamental research should be related to the following “extreme” topics:
– Extremely fast (speed of light)
– Extremely small (elementary particles)
– Extremely big (universe)
– Extremely heavy (black hole)
– Extremely high energy (extremely hot)
– Extremely low energy (extremely cold)
– Extremely complex (life)
The above research topics have been inspired by a presentation by Prof. Gerard ‘t Hooft, recipient of the 1999 Nobel Prize in physics for work in electroweak interactions.
