Why are they hating on physics now?
There are many great developments in physics, for example the detection of gravity waves.
The showrunners are making a big mistake in belittling the main characters at the expense of their women - first they made the women earn much more even when that is unrealitic in the real world. Now they are making physics a "dead end" for some reason and the "squishy sciences" all the rage.
And in-universe, if CalTech wants some physics breakthroughs from their institute, maybe fund the physics department properly instead of blowing all your money on Amy's "give monkeys cancer" lab.