- 2989 - STRING THEORY - is this the new math? String Theory is the math astronomers use to delve into all these ideas. There has been some success working with multiple dimensions. But, nothing has been grounded in a physical reality that we can test and verify. It is still all theory after 30 years of trying. But, astronomers are not giving up. There is still a lot of explaining to do.
----------------------- 2989 - STRING THEORY - is this the new math?
- In 1920 Einstein introduced the Theory of Relativity for Gravity and he described it with a math that worked perfectly well on big objects. About the same time Quantum Mechanics was introduced to describe small, atomic sized objects. The math was mostly statistics that described things in probabilities, not certainties.
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- The new math was based on the “Uncertainty Principle” introduced by Max Planck. It is the same Universe. Big things are made up of small things. Why can’t one math work for both situations. Well, the last 100 years have proven each math to be accurate in its own realm to the highest precision. But, no one has been able to bring the two together. Neither math works in both realms.
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- The attempts have developed another new math called “String Theory“. It describes everything being made up of fundamental particles that are small vibrating strings. In order to make the math work, extra dimensions had to be introduced. Einstein used 4 dimensions. String Theory needs 11 dimensions, it is just that 7 of them are so small we can not possible see them.
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- The same forces operate on molecules as well as stars. String Theory tries to use the same math on both. Gravity, electricity, magnetism operate the same regardless of size. This new math should also work regardless of size. But, after 50 years of trying String Theory has still not produced results. Many times close, but no cigar.
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- In the 1970’s mathematicians developed String Theory. The particle size strings were given different harmonics of vibration to correspond for the different properties of the different fundamental particles, like electrons, protons, quarks, etc. In theory this one theory could unite all the particles.
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- One encouraging development was that the theory could describe another new particle called the “graviton”. This particle could be the force carrier for Gravity, just like the photon is the force carrier for the Electromagnetic Force. The graviton was another massless particle that traveled at the speed of light. It could explain Gravity as well as Quantum Mechanics.
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- This new math combined Relativity and Quantum Mechanics. It was one theory for everything. But, for the math to work it needed 7 more dimensions. Seven more degrees of freedom in the variables. But, that left 100’s of possible solutions to every equation. Which one solution was the right one?
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- Even more mysterious the theory introduced 24 more fundamental particles. Just like the Standard Model of Particle Physics has 12 particles and 12 anti-particles. String Theory introduced 24 more that were much heavier, containing much more energy, called super particles, or super symmetry.
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- Ok, this could be the answer for Dark Matter, super particles that we can not see. And, the extra dimensions could explain why Gravity is such a weak force compared to the 3 other forces. Maybe the force of Gravity is leaking outside our Observable Universe into one of the extra dimensions. Encouraging ideas, but again no cigar.
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- No physical evidence has ever been presented that String Theory is correct. It is just math. Empirical evidence is needed to convince everyone it is correct. None, so far.
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- String Theory has evolved to M-Theory, the “mother” of all theories, that makes the 5th dimension so large as to be as big as the Observable Universe, so big we cannot see it. While the other six dimension as so small we cannot see them.
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- The M-theory thinks our Universe floats on a membrane, or brane. We are just 3 dimensions floating on a 5th dimension. The Big Bang is explained as a collision between 2 branes floating around in a Mega Universe containing multiple universes. The Cosmic Inflation period is one result of two of these Universes colliding.
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- What is the shape of the Universe? It is a giant sphere. It is a ball of space filled with matter and energy. If the sphere is bounded like a ball, what lies on the other side of the edges? Space has 3 dimensions so any point can be defined with “x“, “y“, and “z” coordinates.
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- Physically we are limited to these three dimensions, but, mathematically there is no limit. We can just add a forth dimension and call it “m”. If this sphere were large enough it would appear “flat” to us. But, what if it is not spherical in shape? What if it is a donut, a torus? Would we be able to tell the difference?
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- If the Universe is a closed universe then traveling in a straight line would eventually return you to the point of origin. That is if you could see far enough you would eventually see the back of your head.
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- On the surface of the Earth, traveling in a straight returns you to the same spot you started. Could all the billions of galaxies we are seeing be fewer galaxies with images simply repeating themselves? Yes, astronomers have been searching for galaxy twins to see if this could be the case. So far, no twins have been found.
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- String Theory is the math astronomers use to delve into all these ideas. There has been some success working with multiple dimensions. But, nothing has been grounded in a physical reality that we can test and verify. It is still all theory after 30 years of trying. But, astronomers are not giving up. There is still a lot of explaining to do.
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------------------- To learn more see review:
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- 2587 - STRING THEORY - and Quantum Mechanics are frontiers in science. So much is unknown and mysterious. We are learning, but, we are like children picking up pebbles of knowledge on the beach with the whole ocean of the unknown before us. How does quantum mechanics play an essential role in everyday activities while it is one of the most successful theories in all of science.
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- 794 - Warped Passages - String Theory by Lisa Randall
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January 21, 2021 STRING THEORY - the new math? 1210 2989
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