It is about the attitude of science.

Frankly, the concept of negative temperature is so simple and so old that there is no point of discussing it. It is actually much more interesting to discuss the concept of ordinary temperature that we are all familiar with. Negative temperature is barely the result of applying the formula of the old good temperature definition to a system with limited number of states. It didn't work well because there is a singular point, and there is negative value. Another way to say this is that the concept of temperature breaks down. Plus, since the number of states is limited, temperature isn't really needed. On the contrary, only after the system has been thoroughly studied, the value of the temperature can then be calculated from the well-understood system. In short, it is a useless phrase here. But physicists use it anyway, there is nothing wrong with that.

However, to declare to the public that negative temperature is something strange, innovative, abnormal, is just a reflection of how poor physicists are, both in terms of money and in terms of their research results. Nobody wouldn't say so if it happened at earlier half of last century when physics was still at its prime time, when strange, innovative, abnormal concepts would not stop amazing physicists themselves, who had barely anytime or interest to introduce them to the public. And when they have tried, they emphasized how the new concepts are actually normal, nature, consistent with the old system. They have tried to explain everything within the old frame work. But it didn’t work. So it was absolutely necessary to expand the concept just a little bit.It is necessary and natural, that is the point.

Things are so different know. We can’t help to notice frequent announcements from physics community about their strange, abnormal “discoveries”, which, shamefully, including the faster than the speed of the light measurement. As one member of the public I have to say the reputation of physicists has been hurt by these events. If announce to the public, this is what I expect to hear from physicists. First I wish what has been announced is true, not just something“possible”. Second it is better to be something that has a little bit value, not some old soup made half a century ago. Last it has to be something matters to the public. Well if a physicist thinks 10-dimension space and multiple universes are things matters, why not go ahead apply a job in Hollywood?