M-Theory is the unifying theory of superstrings, which explains that multiple superstring theories are different ways of looking at the same theory. It proposes an eleventh dimension, which unites all the conflicting theories of string theory and explains how the Big Bang could have occurred. M-Theory and superstrings have succeeded where the Standard Model failed, unifying all the forces in the universe with one elegant theory. Some scientists reject it, while others find the mathematical elegance of the theory to be correct.
In JRR Tolkien’s Hobbit trilogy, a series of magical rings were forged from gold, each with incredible power for the wearer. To keep the powers in balance, there was one ring that ruled them all, more powerful than the others because it united them. M-Theory is the unifying theory of superstrings which explained that multiple superstring theories are actually different ways of looking at the same theory. In this sense, the M-Theory is “the one theory that ties them all together”, and it did so by revealing an eleventh dimension to the wonderfully elegant superstring theory.
Superstring theory holds that particles, previously thought of as tiny balls of energy, are actually tiny wriggling strings. Although strings are smaller than any subatomic particle we can detect or measure, they make up all the matter in the universe. The unique vibration of the strings determines the type of particle created, each with a different vibrational signature.
String theory is particularly important because it combines the quantum world of the infinitesimal with the world we know through our senses. Superstrings also unites all four forces of the universe: the strong and weak nuclear forces, electromagnetism and gravity. Einstein spent his entire life searching for a unifying field theory, or “The Theory of Everything.” M-theory is the first mathematically sound theory to do this.
Before M-Theory, superstring theory held that there were ten dimensions. The three we know of, and six other extremely small “curly” dot-forming dimensions existing anywhere within space/time. The strings of superstring theory exist within these six-dimensional shapes. Time has made a total of ten dimensions. But several conflicting theories soon arose which all seemed to prove string theory. This was a conundrum, because if the theory is correct there should be no conflicting theories, but one definitive theory. The M-Theory turned out to be the one theory that united all the others.
M-Theory has proposed an eleventh dimension which mathematically frees the theory from any further anomaly. In this eleventh dimension a string could acquire enough energy to expand infinitely in what scientists call a floating membrane. According to the theory, our universe exists on a floating membrane, along with infinitely many parallel universes on their own membranes. From this basis, it was also discovered that (mathematically) gravity could “seep” into our membrane from another nearby membrane, explaining its relatively weak force compared to the other forces. M-Theory and superstrings have succeeded where the Standard Model failed, unifying all the forces in the universe with one elegant theory.
By introducing the eleventh dimension, M-Theory has successfully merged the “competing” theories of string theory. Scientists saw that the different theories were actually multiple ways of approaching the same theory, similar to the old proverb about blind men each touching a different part of an elephant offering seemingly conflicting observations. M-Theory also provided another crucial aspect of the puzzle as it explained how the Big Bang could have occurred, with the collision of two membranes. The energy produced by such a collision is mathematically consistent with what we know from existing science.
Because string theory predicts phenomena we can’t currently measure such as tiny strings, extra dimensions, and multiple universes, some scientists outright reject it. Others find the mathematical elegance of the theory test itself to be correct and expect M-Theory and superstrings to eventually be validated.
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