• Question: What are your thought on string theory do you think it is correct or not?

    Asked by Mockingtoast to Alex, Ali, Kerry, Philip, Theo on 13 Nov 2014.
    • Photo: Philip Ratcliffe

      Philip Ratcliffe answered on 13 Nov 2014:


      This is a deep one, because nobody yet really understands what string theory is or means. This may sound strange but it’s true. We often have the ability to right down mathematically consistent and interesting equations, expressions etc. but which we can’t solve. String theory is one of these.
      It first became interesting because it seemed to represent the first theory that might also describe gravitation completely and it even seemed to promise to explain, for example, why our space is three-dimensional and time only one dimension (nobody asked that one yet! Ha!). So far however nobody has managed to solve the equations and so we don’t know of it really describes our universe and physics or somebody elses.
      So the answer is that it is mathematically very intriguing but may be wrong. Scientists don’t usually hold beliefs, they are only interested in things they can prove and be certain of.

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