• Question: Do you believe in string theory?

    Asked by Lottie to Susan, Chris, Josh, Rebecca, Rob on 17 Jun 2015. This question was also asked by holster2003.
    • Photo: Susan Cartwright

      Susan Cartwright answered on 17 Jun 2015:

      This is a good question.
      In science, theories shouldn’t have to be something you “believe in” – they should be mathematical frameworks that explain experimental/observational facts and make predictions. Unfortunately, string theory is in a weak position here. Although the structure of the theory naturally accounts for gravity – which is famously difficult in quantum theories – it has proven very difficult to persuade string theory to produce any testable predictions about the world.

      I regard string theory as a branch of mathematics more than a real physical theory. It may be that in the future it will graduate to theory status, when it becomes more predictive.

    • Photo: Rob Temperton

      Rob Temperton answered on 17 Jun 2015:

      I agree – string theory in my eyes is currently a mathematical idea and not a true scientific theory.

      A theory need to be testable – ie make a prediction about something that you can observe/measure. String theory does not do this. I therefore can not say that sting theory is a correct model to describe our universe. It is however an interesting idea that has the potential to explain a lot – but it is currently still an idea with a lot of problems that are being worked on and and the ‘theory’ is constantly developing as a result.

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