String theory unifies the world of the infinitely small with the known world by combining Einstein’s theory of relativity with quantum physics. It represents all four known forces in one elegant theory and requires extra dimensions to be free from mathematical anomalies. The M-theory is the one theory to rule them all. The eleventh dimension of string theory predicts a new type of string, stretched infinitely to create what is called a floating membrane, or brane, and explains the weak force of gravity. String theory also offers a possible explanation for the Big Bang, but much of it is unprovable.
String theory, sometimes called the Theory of Everything, is believed by some to be the unifying field theory that Einstein sought before his death. It is the first mathematically sound theory that reconciles the world of the infinitely small with the known world in general. It combines Einstein’s theory of relativity with quantum physics and offers a potential explanation for the Big Bang.
Before string theory, subatomic particles were thought of as tiny balls or dots of energy. This theory works on the premise that the smallest subatomic bits that make up the elements of atoms actually behave like vibrating strings. Strings are so small that physicist Brian Greene made an analogy that, if a single atom were enlarged to occupy our solar system’s footprint, a string would still be no bigger than a tree.
Because these tiny vibrating strings are responsible for the properties of all matter, the cosmos has been likened to a cosmic symphony of superstrings. While poetically attractive, the strength of string theory is that it represents all four known forces in one elegant theory. These fundamental forces are gravity, the strong and weak nuclear forces; and electromagnetism.
One of the striking elements of this theory is that it requires extra dimensions to be free from mathematical anomalies. The scientists added six more dimensions, initially, for a total of ten. The six dimensions were predicted to be contained in tiny coiled formations at every point in our three-dimensional space.
There was one problem, however: String theorists have come up with several theories that all seemed to be correct. Eventually, the scientists discovered that adding an eleventh dimension mathematically explained all the seemingly different theories as different aspects of the same one. The one theory to rule them all is known as the M-theory.
The eleventh dimension of string theory predicts a new type of string, stretched infinitely to create what is called a floating membrane, or brane. According to this theory, there are infinitely many branes that each support a separate but parallel universe. In this wildly exotic neighborhood, the “problematic” gravity was also explained.
While the Standard Model of physics had already combined three of the known forces, gravity remained elusive. Part of the problem was that gravity was such a weak force compared to the others. String theory mathematically predicts that gravity is weak because here it only comes from a parallel universe.
This is possible, string theorists explain, because strings can be open or closed. Indefinite strings have an endpoint attached to the brane they reside on, keeping the matter contained within that brane. Human bodies are believed to be made up of open strings, which explains why people cannot reach or interact with other dimensions. Closed strings, however, are like tiny loops, unattached to their brane, capable of “leaking” out of it.
Gravity is thought to be transferred via hypothetical massless particles called gravitons. If gravitons were made up of closed strings, the scientists theorized, gravity could leak off our brane. It sounded good, but it didn’t work mathematically. The opposite hypothesis worked, however: gravity appears to spill off our brane from a parallel universe. Fantastically, this notion is mathematically sound.
String theory also offers a possible explanation for the Big Bang. It had long irked scientists that although they could trace the phases of the Big Bang back to the singularity, the initial cause of the event was without explanation. Now string theorists believe that the collision of two branes may have caused the event.
The biggest challenge to the theory is that much of it is unprovable. Scientists can’t test other dimensions, study migrating gravitons, or peer through floating brane curtains to witness a Big Bang event. For this reason, string theory has many detractors and critics. Some scientists believe that without the ability to prove the theory, it’s not really science at all. Still, proponents seem hopeful that evidence of various kinds will come with technological advancement and time.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
