String Theory

[bhinso]

I found this interesting introduction to String Theory linked from a Physics page:

https://www.facebook.com/watch/secretsofuniverse/289979712024804/

So I learnt that String Theory is an attempt to unify the four forces, the two models being General Relativity and Quantum Mechanics.

What I didn't know before was that Gravity is well modelled by Relativity, but the other three (EM, Weak Nuclear, Strong Nuclear) are modelled by Quantum.

So the unifying solution lies in 'Quantum Gravitation'.

The disadvantage of String Theory is that it needs 11 dimensions to model it.
We are familiar with four of these (although time always strikes me as very different to the other three).
The remaining dimensions are apparently 'curled up somewhere small' which means God Knows What to me.

[Eddie Hitler]

Last time I looked wasn't there "M-theory", an evolution of string theory on the model of the universe acting as a membrane?

Worth looking into gravitons too, interesting stuff.

[xX-Alex-Xx]

Loop Quantum Gravity is also worth a look if you’re into that. I love the theory of this stuff but the maths always does me in, same with the rest of physics.
____________________
DILLIGAF

[Lord Percy]

I don't like the argument about extra dimensions. It's about as useful as saying time travel is possible if we allow for speeds of infinity miles per hour.

What string theorists should be asking now (and surely have asked) is, "If there are higher physical dimensions, what does this mean in the three-dimensional world we know, and how can we verify it?"

To me it seems like more of a pop-science buzzword now. I first heard of string theory almost ten years ago, and there has been zero advance in any of it since then. Just more and more of these videos talking about however many dimensions all folded in on each other.