who knows about M theory (membrane theory)?

Question

the concept blows my mind but i dont fully understand it. can anyone make it more understandable?

Answer 1

Like KBW above, I just got my ankles wet on that theory.

A *collision* of branes is what caused our universe...? That's a hard one to fathom. I think string theory by itself is still the forerunner (in my mind) as the make up of the universe - I don't like to think of our universe as a collision of other dimensions...

Answer 2

the meaning of "M" is really open to debate
master, mathematical, mother, mystery, membrane, magic, matrix, monster, monkey

Drawing on the work of a number of string theorists Edward Witten of the Institute for Advanced Study suggested its existence at a conference at USC in 1995,

some claim M is actually a W (for Witten) designed to hide his "signiture"

its not just gobbildygook made up out of the middle of nowhere. its based out of quantum physics. laws that don't make much sense, but ARE observible in many different ways.
examples.
how does light work, as a particle or as a wave? you say BOTH at the same time? impossbile. welcome to quantum physics.....

can we predict the path of electrons circling an atom? NO. did you say the electron disappears and then reapers somewhere else? crazy.

quantum tunneling, how did that photon tranfser information to its second half over a distance of a few meters, instantly? you mean it was faster than the speed of light? you said it teleported? but its not even an electron.

just because people don't understand or believe M theory, its foundation is VERY VERY real and we don't always pay attention to it.

better to believe in colliding dimensions rather than accept the idea of GOD doing it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B0Kaf7xYMk&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFToNpH_RG8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOkAagw6iug

episodes are listen top to bottom, not left to right
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/elegant/program.html

I'll give you a friendly thumbs up since some a hole slapped you a thumb down.

I'll still respect the fact you think I'm an idiot.

Answer 3

Really understanding M theory is probably a claim only a few people in the world can make. It's way past my level, that's for sure. Trying to make something simpler always gets one into trouble ... didn't Einstein say "Everything should be made as simple as possible -- but no simpler!"

Answer 4

I've read just enough about it to have a strong sense that it is pseudoscientific gobbledegook. It is an invention of people who can't answer the most fundamental question of the cosmos. Nor should they expect to be able to. But some frustrated physicists or cosmologists will get a lot of mileage out of it: speaking engagements, publication, degrees, and maybe even a spot on a documentary.