String Theory: Brilliant or Bulls**t?

Question

I'm watching The Elegant Universe and frankly, when they started talking about the need for several extra dimensions in order to have String Theory work, they lost me. It sounds like they're creating their own proof, 'strings' as well as these extra dimensions, which....surprise,surprise.....can never be observed or have their existance disproven....

I dunno, I think it sounds like hoke-um to me...

Answer 1

Right now there are number of experiments to see whether string theory ( I would prefer String hypothesis as there is not enough scientific evidence to warrent it being called a theory) is feasible or not. This is the way science works. One group of people come up with an idea that they think explains alot of the problems with current ideas and theory, they experiment to test the validity of the idea, they refine the idea, they experiment some more, and finally have a good working theory. String hypothesis is currently in the experimental stage. It may turn to be valid or a bunch of baloney. We will just have to wait and see.

Answer 2

Let me give you an example of how, at the very least, a fifth dimension can appear quite naturally in a physical theory by describing the Kaluza Klein model of electrodynamics.

The electromagnetic field F = (E_x,E_y,E_z,B_x,B_y,B_z) fits neatly into the language of general relativity if you think of the components of the field as the 6 components of a differential 2-form on a 4-manifold. Namely, write F as:

F = E_x dxdt + E_y dydt + E_z dzdt + B_x dydz + B_y dzdx+B_z dxdy.

Maxwell's equations imply that dF = d*F = 0. In other words, F is a harmonic 2-form. Moreover, for physical reasons I actually don't understand, the cohomology class that F represents turns out to be an integral class. (Meaning that the integral of F over every closed surface is always an integer).

It is a well-known fact from topology that F must therefore represent the first chern class of a circle-bundle over the base 4-manifold. This makes sense from a physical perspective as well. For, since F is an electromagnetic field, we expect that F should come from some potential, i.e., F = dA. However, if the class represented by F is nontrivial, then F = dA would imply F = 0. But this is where thinking of the circle bundle comes in handy. For if we pull F back to the total space of the circle bundle, then p^* F = dA, where A is the global angular form (see Bott and Tu).

Thus, we see that the circle bundle (a 5 dim space) is a much more natural object to study than the base manifold itself in this situation.

Answer 3

The string theory is just that, a theory. A theory is a proposed reason for an occurance. There's no way to definately prove a theory.

The string theory could be true, take Deja Vu, maybe the moment we're born a million different universes are running right next to us. Say you in Universe 1 experiences a car crash and you in this universe goes by the intersection and has Deja Vu. This could be because the you from Universe 1 collided with you in this universe for that moment.

Strings would explain a lot but it'll take a good amount of time before it's accepted into society.

Answer 4

So when the scientists needed extra dimensions to make String Theory work, you cried "hoke-um". Was it because you restricted science only to operations that deal with 3-dimensions plus time?

How many dimensions does a black hole have? Science tells us that it does not contain protons and neutrons as we know them. Its gravity is so strong that you can't speak of time (time slows as gravity increases). A black hole does not have a surface... Yet, you still believe in them.

What was the fabric of reality at the moment of the universe's creation - the big bang. There was no time until the big bang. The laws of nature did not apply. The energy forces as we know them did not exist. Yet, you believe it happened.

In String Theory we find all matter, composed of tiny vibrating strings. Its like everything is energy, only the material is that energy which is contained. If extra dimensions are necessary to keep the mathematics from being expressing in infinities that would make our model meaningless, then perhaps they exist. We already live in an universe that reaches beyond our imagination.

Answer 5

i wont knock the existence of extra dimensions, however i believe that the string theory is redundant because of the fact that it only incorporates things such as gravity and other natural states which already coexist with our dimension whether we identify or acknowledge them or not.....cosmic events may or may not have to do with the quantum possibilities and their effects on our universe...whos to say...we do not need several more dimensions if we have made it this far without them but should they exist and have just not been identified as of yet what would be the difference...we would never know...it still all boils down to the old addage "what we dont know wont hurt us" ...suns still coming up tomorrow

Answer 6

You're right, there is no proof yet that strings exist. It's still under development, but so far the theory has not broken down when compared to known facts. I'm not saying I understand any of it, but I understand how scienific development works. We need many wrong answers to get to the right ones.

Answer 7

You should read 'Supersymmetry' by Gordon Kane

Answer 8

Only because you don't understand brilliance!

Answer 9

i think that is it Brilliant... Bull$hit