Why is string theory being taught in schools?

Question

Ok, back in my high school Chemistry course, I was introduced to this rediculous blind speculation called String Theory. See the link below if you need more information on the "theory" itself. It's interesting to note that this "theory" is not only completely untestable, unsupported by any solid evidence, and basically a huge load of crap that some "geniuses" pulled out of their "hats", but there really isn't any foreseeable way for this to ever be tested in the future. How is this science? Who got paid to come up with this junk? Is anybody actually buying it? Who had the nerve to label it a scientific theory and encourage teachers to cover it in class?

If it's not verified or at least supported by tests, it's not a theory. If it isn't testable at all, not only does it not have a chance of becoming a theory, but wouldn't that make it more philosophy than science?

You guys do bring up some good points, but I guess my main question was, does this really belong in a science curriculum?

Anybody else seeing a possible flaw in this new star system?

Answer 1

You are correct about a few things. String Theory IS a theory, and it IS untestable.

However, String Theory has a huge amount of math backing it up. It's not just outright speculation by any means, and it certainly isn't junk.

While it is not mature yet, it is still great that they are teaching it in school because it is the most current vision of the way the world works, and that is invaluable.

Ease up the aggro and do some reading, and you will see that it is much more than you make it out to be.

If you don't believe that the world's leading mathematicians and physicists are "geniuses", and you truly believe they just pulled this out of their "hats", I challenge you to provide a more sound alternative. Obviously, you're the genius here, right?

Answer 2

String Theory Schools

Answer 3

Nice question. I was thinking about this myself recently.

Yeah, string theory does not fall in line CURRENTLY with the traditional notion of science since it cannot be falsified or verified with experiment. true.

However, it still may be possible to test the theory in the future or even near future. In fact there is current research with accelerators to dectect i believe "gravitons" and measure its strength and live span to verify string theory.

However, even if it is not testable in the near future, string theory from what I have read has the benefits of developing and inspiring new mathematical theroems and techniques as a result of string theories physical insights

Most universities actually do not have classes in string theory at least for the undergrad level, and many do not have classes in the graduate level either. Although the top physics universities do teach classes at both levels.

I guess you could think of it as a great big circle. The first great physcist was aristotle who speculated about all sorts of things without testing a damn thing through experiment. Then you have the Karl Popper notion of falsificationism in science And now string theory.

Also consider that James Clerk Maxwell if he would have lived long enough might have come up with the theory of relativity before einstein. During his era it probably would have been more difficult to verify it, although not impossible.

However, eventually if our technology advances or we become more clever we could someday verify it. In fact, one possible verification as some theorist propose is to detect a "large string" using telescopes and cosmological back ground radiation of some sort.

In short string theory has its merits, if it is not science, it is still an inspiration to mathematics, although seemingly esoteric could have big time future applications.

Even if it is all wrong in the end. That does not mean it was wasted. In science an idea proven wrong later is still good since it contributes to our knowledge. At least we know what not bark up next time and may inspire other ideas!

Time will tell though!

Answer 4

I agree with you that, it is still a theory not supported by observation. BUT!!!!, If you are familiar with Math, you wouldn't put the things the way you did. No offense but string theory might just be a theoritical concept, BUT scientists didn't come up with that theory because they had to kill some time. There is reason behind that. The derivations and mathematics behind the theory is bind boggling.

Your question on "Why do they teach it in school"?
Well...its not taught because its true or false, but just for information sake. As aspiring students, we all have to be properly informed about the advancements in science, may it be practical or theoritical. When ancient astronomers claimed that they believe earth is round, they were laughed at and everybody thought it was load of crap. But that information led to several people working on that issue to prove or disprove it. After observations it happened to be true.
Somebody has to question things, raise doubts, talk about theories that has little math support. Only then we can ponder upon stuff.
Things taught in school should help us understand where everybody is coming from and to understand all the theories that are there on the table. It gives us better understanding of the whole scenario.

-Peace

Answer 5

First, I do not believe that they are really actually teaching string theory; teaching that theory involves math that is totally out of the league of high school students, and would require more than just a few full time courses just to introduce the math needed.
What is most likely happening is that string theory is mentioned, because some smart alek kid will ask:
Molecules are made of what?
Atoms.
Atoms are made of what? Electrons and nucleon -- protons and neutrons.
Protons and neutrons are made of what? Quarks.
And quarks are made of what? Perhaps strings, and no more question please because this is all we think we know.

As for the testability of sting theory, may I suggest that, when Pr. Einstein came up with his famous E=mc^2 formula, he was asked if this matter/energy thing could ever be tested, and he said that he did not know if it could be done. That was in the 1905. 40 years later, the proof was unquestionable.
So, who knows about prooving string theories, eventually?

Answer 6

Curriculum in schools are supposed to reflect prevailing thought in society, whether it concerns law, social issues, health, literature, and science. String theory today is a big field in physics, and students should be informed of the fact it's a big field in physics, just like they should be informed that the current political wind in the USA today is Republican and conservative. That doesn't say either one is right.

Unfortunately, schools have become legal battlefields over the content of the curriculum, so for example, the danger of teaching string theory "as science" is that it invites intelligent design people to come in and argue that ID should be taught "as science" as well. Neither has been tested, so why the privileged position of string theory?

My suggestion is to have it taught as mathematics, not science. It IS a wonderful piece of theoretical mathematics, indisputably correct and true as such. But as many others here have said, it's doubtful that any mathematics of string theory is being explained or taught to high school students.

Answer 7

First of all, string theory IS testable. It is firmly grounded in mathmatics, and you can see Discover magazine for a good article on testing string theory that they published a few months ago. It will still be at least 10 years before we have the necessary instruments, however.

Second, you did NOT learn string theory in high school chemistry. It's not even a required course for physics graduate students. I will be introduced to it in my second semester of General Relativity, and I have been in physics grad school for three years now without learning string theory (besides the basics). I don't think you're really in a position to make a judgement call about how valid or testable it is.

Finally, as it's a very advanced form of physics, it's definitely NOT in your cirriculum. Universities teach it or not depending on the dept, but the real scientists make that call. Your teacher was just showing you some of the current, ground-breaking theories in science today, and good for her/him. They might want to concentrate more on the basics, however, considering the kind of physics students I get in my intro labs.

Answer 8

It's not being taught as a fact, a theory is: just that a theory, it isn't being taught as a fact or even a hypothesis.

Theory —Synonyms 1. Theory, hypothesis are used in non-technical contexts to mean an untested idea or opinion. A theory in technical use is a more or less verified or established explanation accounting for known facts or phenomena

Answer 9

Read Brian Greene's book 'The Elegant Universe' or see the doco of the same name released by NOVA (just Google it).

Everything you want to know about String Theory (entry level) is in there.

Answer 10

Jeez m8. Open up you small mind.
that is exactly whats wrong with, not only today's culture. but culture throughout history in general.
People here something that's far too Far-fetched for their Minds to withstand so they shut it out.
Christopher Columbus once proposed the world was round. people laughed at him. but who's laughing now. Einstein, Galileo, Newton. ... were probably all laughed at once. all Because they proposed something which went against the belief of so many people. But they were all right. all these people had1 thing in common a bit of imagination backed up by pure genius.

Maybe teaching theoretical physics is they way forward. lets Open up the Minds and Imaginations of today's youth.

mackey xx