by DB Kooper

Created on: December 04, 2008

In the natural world theoretical physics uses math and basic physics to interpret and explain information and attempt to rationalize phenomena. Albert Einstein used predictions based on calculations, and those calculations were based on math and theory. He was able to prove many natural occuring events that no one could see becouse the theory and ideas behind his predictions were sound. A physics theory involves one or more relationships between various measurable quantities. String theory is based on this concept and today has taken on a certain cachet among scientists. Its ideas are elegant interpretations of unseen forces and I will attempt to simplify them for you.

String theory consists of many ideas with various mathematical formulas. A manner to describe known natural forces (electromagnetic, gravitational,etc.) and matter in a math controlled system. Some critics have poo-pooed string theory because it has not proved experimentally testable ideas. Proving the theory would be expensive,engineering on a universal scale would be needed.
Because of the math involved, and the vast numbers these theories produce, scientists are fascinated by the idea and the new possibilities. String theory suggests that space/time has 11 dimensions,not the usual 3 space and 1 time,and can show universes with 4 observable space/time dimensions as well. String theories involve objects more than strings, or branes. The word brane, derived from "membrane", point to a variety of connected objects, such as D-branes, black p-branes and Neveu-Schwarz 5-branes. All believed to be related to each other. For example, the black hole-like black p-branes are identified with D-branes, upon which strings end, through Gauge-gravity relation. Experiments on this has led to new ideas on quantum chromo-dynamics, the basic ideas behind the strong nuclear force.
The idea behind string theory is the holographic principle, which states that the description of the movement of the surface of a black hole will describe the space/time surrounding it. Holography requires that a low-dimensional theory describing the fluctuations of a horizon will end up describing everything that can fall through, which can be anything at all. So the idea of a black hole horizon is a theory of everything.
The classic General Relativity Theory which you no doubt learned a little about in high school science, deals with Gravity in a space-time context. Gravity would bend spacetime and show velocity, speed of an object.

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