For ages, scientists try to find one ultimate theory that will unite all principles of physics together. These principles include Gravitation, Electromagnetism, General Relativity, Strong nuclear Force, and Weak nuclear force. Recently, new research has been put towards a theory that could be "the theory of everything": This is String Theory.

String theory states that everything, from the atom to the universe, can be described using strings, small pieces of vibrating energy. But to believe that string theory to be true, it would mean that there are more than 3 dimensions (up to eleven), there would be parallel universes, and impossible things may become probable.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/String_theory

Here is a video explaining string theory in a 3 part PBS video (about 3 hours)
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/physics/elegant-universe-einstein.html

So what do you think? Could this be the real deal? Is this THE "theory of everything"?

From what I have heard, the theory really can't be tested (at least at this time). I have no opinion on it, though, it sounds really weird/cool that there could be up to 11 dimensions. I can't even imagine how different and strange they would be from this one.

While I believe everything in existence is connected, I'm not convinced that any object can exist in less than 3D (at least to beings which perceive things in 3D). Can a 2D object exist? Such an object would have no volume, and therefor no mass. Can an object have no mass? And, if an object cannot exist with fewer than 3 dimensions, then how would one exist with more than 3? If it works in one direction, then it must work in reverse somehow. Everything ever documented has had mass, however little. Even light has mass because it is made of tiny particles, and so even it is affected by the gravity of a black hole (casting doubt on any magical black hole theories as well). Gravity from every object affects every other object and all types of energy are similar in that they are all simply the motion of matter, and thus inseparable from it.

I've found that any number of these time/space warp theories either contradict themselves or can be explained using a 3D environment. I just don't see any reason to believe them.


edit: spelling

It's not that there are 3D objects, 2D objects and 7D objects. It's more that each object exists in all dimensions. Is my computer monitor a rectangle, or is a rectangular prism? I say it's both. Too bad we can't perceive these higher theoretical dimensions, though. Maybe we should ask the Arilou...

play4fun : I think Scientists should put more time into actually curing disease rather than trying to prove a theory… If all these scientists put their energy behind ending disease not only would the world be a better place but, we might actually solve the damn healthcare debate in this country, because without disease or ailments who goes to a doctor?

The idea behind all the extra dimensions in string theory is that they are hidden within the dimensions we already see. The example I was given is if you look out your window at a telephone line a ways away, it just looks like a black line. However, if you were to examine one up close, you could see that the telephone line is in fact a three dimensional, cylindrical object. That is the idea; the dimensions, made up of tiny strings, are coiled and hidden in larger dimensions.

As for its actual veracity, proponents of string theory tend to be a minority in their field. However, to really discuss it and its merits, we would need to be qualified physicists or at least have a solid grasp of the scientific literature.

bvd1022 : Medicine is just one small branch of science. Asking scientists from fields like physics to work on curing diseases is like asking a writer to design a car. It doesn't make sense.

Traduweise :
As a writer I would gladly take that challenge if it paid enough… anyone who knows what it’s like to be a writer and put the subsequent time in and such knows that it is almost as hard a struggle to get paid on a consistent basis than it is being creatively fresh in regard to material… I was just saying that as a general opinion of mine.

It is one thing that constantly nags me how with all the advancements we have in technology and all we do now that we couldn’t do before that disease is the one thing we haven’t solved.

bvd1022 : I chose writing not because it is a precarious profession, but becausee it differs greatly in application to a job like automobile designer. I'm sure you would take that challenge though, but without the years of study in engineering and some firsthand experience, your actual design would suck. Badly. Just like a physicist who hadn't gone through undergraduate college, med school, years of training as a doctor would be hopelessly over his head if he tried to cure cancer.

Believe it or not, qualified people are currently working on curing diseases. Advancements in medicine are constantly being made. Forcing people who are not trained in medicine to assist in the research will not help.

bvd1022 : But there is a problem with that. People would die less, live longer, and overpopulation would increase at an even faster rate. We really need to do something about everyone having so many babies.

over-population is not the real problem though. The real problem is consumption. This planet can support more people than it does currently but because of the way we use land and consume resources it won't support many more. If people had gardens in their back yards and ate less meat and drank less coffee and so many other things that would make better use of the land we have available then we wouldn't have a population problem.

geeogree : True, but overpopulation will lead to over consumption. More people require more food to be produced.

"but overpopulation will lead to over consumption."

Not true, but I think I know what you mean. Increased population would lead to increased consumption.

I think with more responsible use of resources that this planet could support a lot more people. Any country that is remotely developed into an industrial nation is generally very wasteful in some way or another. When it's cheaper to produce something brand new than to fix something old you know you've got a problem. This is totally off-topic now.... we really could make this a thread of it's own


[on-topic] I don't know if String Theory is true and I don't really care. Even if it is true the likelihood that it will affect me in this lifetime is very small.

NotJon : From my PS3: I think that the theory that the reason why the hasn't been a solution to disease is so the "Powers that be" have a means of keeping the global population down holds some water. I think that it sounds a little like the builderburg conspiracy that Jesse Ventura discussed on his show last season.

I don't think the problem necessarily is that too many people are having babies... I think a more accurate statement may be that far too many people just don't want to take responsibility once they are made aware that they are expecting a child. Having a family is a blessing that some take for granted and that is really unfortunate.

I just feel that far more can be accomplished in regard to curing disease. If any of you haven't read books written by Kevin Trudeau on Natural Cures it is a real eye opener...

So, I believe the topic was "String Theory". No where were we? Ah, yes...

String Theory is a touchy subject- trying to find a common ground with general relativity and quantum mechanics (QM, as crazy those workings are, may be the cause for the disconnectedness). I would usually type up a 1000+ word post about this subject, but I don't have time. Instead, I will say that String Theory is the best tool we have right now for connecting the two together. Those of you are interested in the subject should definitely check out the book, "The Elegant Universe" by Brian Greene. Outstanding insight to the way String Theory works, along with a bunch of other cool things.

Cyro Xero : The video link that I gave is a 3 part episode of "NOVA" from PBS that was hosted by Brian Greene.

play4fun : Then I can only assume it was the "The Elegant Universe" show. I don't know of another 3 part show that he hosted. I like that show.

Still, the book is very fruitful of knowledge. Worth getting if one is interested even a little.

I like string theory because it makes room for the possiblity of time travel as well as parallel universe/multiverse theories. Anything that lends credibility to another is worth investigating. I don't know enough about it to say anything too specific so, i'll say I like the general idea of string theory but I require more research

I'm pretty sure that we have 4 dimensions, not 3. Time counts as one as well, or at least that's the impression I was under.