Here's one to keep us on our toes. What's your gut feel about GUT and TOE? (see details)

GUT or Grand Unified Theory generally refers to a theory of particle physics unifying, at very high energies, the Gage Interactions of the Standard Model of Physics, the Strong Force with the Weak Force and the Electromagnetic Force. The energy required to observe such a merger is a few orders of magnitude below the Plank scale—or the energy which would have been present in the first few femptoseconds of the Universe. This is many orders of magnitude more energy than our largest particle colliders can marshal today, so unless we can make the connection via indirect observation, it may be some time before we are able to replicate the conditions necessary to make the needed measurements and observations.

TOE or Theory of Everything is the euphemistic name for a theory unifying the three Gage Interactions mentioned above with Gravity and the General Relativity understanding of it. Presumably, if there is such a theory, it would unify everything. It would explain all the forces and their interactions. And, if we were able to measure initial conditions completely enough, it would allow us to predict any future outcome controlled by deterministic behavior. But it is thought that we would need a collider capable of producing energy near the Planck scale (1.22 × 10^19 GeV) to study unification of Gravity with the other 3 forces.

Let’s review how far unification has already gone. We have unified electric and magnetic fields into the Electromagnetic Force. We have unified Electromagnetism with the Weak Nuclear Force to yield the Weak Electronuclear Force. Unifying it with the Strong Nuclear Interaction would get us to the GUT or Unified Electronuclear Force. And merging that force with Gravity would bring us to the Theory of Everything.

So, what’s your gut feel? Will we get a toe hold on this? Will GUT and TOE happen? When? Care to guess what we will determine?