What does a theoretical physicist do?

In this video I answer a question that I get a lot: "What does a theoretical physicist do?" How does it work? Do we sit around all day and dream up new particles?

Theoretical physics is a job very similar to any other. You get an education and then you put your knowledge to work. In physics as in all disciplines in science, most of the research is understanding what other people have done. But physicists do many other things besides their research: They teach, mentor, organize conferences, sit in committees, do public outreach (!), or perform administrational functions.

Where physics is special is in the amount of mathematics that we use in our work.

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