Craig Kalucki
Comparitive Religion
Tues 4-6:50

String theory and Universal Theories

If we can take a looks garment from a sweater, and pull one string such as in a cartoon, the sweater will untangle leaving a pile of string on the floor. Basically what this implies is we break down something in its simplest form, and all we have left are tiny bits of string, which is basically similar to “String Theory”.

string theory uses a model of one-dimensional strings in place of the particles of quantum physics. These strings, the size of the Planck length vibrate at specific resonant frequencies. The formulas that result from string theory predict more than four dimensions but the extra dimensions are "curled up" within the Planck length.
In addition to the strings, string theory contains another type of fundamental object called a brane, which can have many more dimensions. In some "braneworld scenarios," our universe is actually "stuck" inside of a 3-dimensional brane, called a 3-brane. Common Sense tells us we live in a world defined by three spatial dimensions and one dimension of time. Mainly, it only takes three numbers to pinpoint your physical location at any given moment. On Earth, these coordinates break down to longitude, latitude and altitude representing the dimensions of length, width and height (or depth). If we put a time stamp on those coordinates, we are pinpointed in time as well.
To strip that down even more, a one-dimensional world would be like a single bead on a measured thread. You can slide the bead forward and you can slide the bead backward, but you only need one number to figure out its exact location on the string: length. Where's the bead? It's at the 6-inch mark, a world that a philosopher would not be able to survive in, due to it being only one way to figure something out.
In a two-dimensional world, it is essentially a flat map, like the playing field in games like Battleship or checkers. You just need length and width to determine location. In Battleship, all you have to do is say E5, and you know the location is a meeting of the horizontal "E" line and the vertical 5.
All these dimensions, are inside of what we call, The ‘Universe”. The Universe is what we call everything: every planet, every star, and every galaxy that we may not even be aware of. It is beyond human comprehension, yet that has not stopped us trying to make sense of it all. When I think of the Universe, all I can possibly fathom is that there is “something” outside of space, or there has to be a point where space stops. The feeling of insignificance is profound, when I complain that somebody cut me off while driving down the turnpike, it actually makes me sick.
The Greek word Kosmos means ‘orderly arrangement’, and we derive today’s words cosmos and cosmology, the branch of astronomy that goes about studying the way the Universe behaves, how it began, and how it will all eventually end. There is way to much to learn about the universe in one’s lifetime, but knowledge and technology has helped us come a long way to find out exactly what the word universe actually means, and how fathomable it truly is.
The Multiverse theory for the universe has been a recently accepted theory that describes the continuous formation of universes through the collapse of giant stars and the formation of black holes. With each of these black holes there is a new point and a new possible universe. Each universe starts with its own big bang, acquires a very “one of a kind” imprint (and its individual physical laws) as it cools, and maps out its own cycle. The big bang that triggered our entire universe is, in this grander perspective, an infinite part of an elaborate structure that extends far beyond the range of any telescopes." (Rees 3) This puts our place in the Multiverse into a small spectrum. While the size of the earth in relation to the sun is minuscule, the size of the sun, the solar system, the galaxy, and even the universe, could pale in comparison to this proposed Multiverse. It would be a shift in thinking that may help explain our big bang theory and possibly give light to the idea of parallel universes.

M-Theory proposes an 11th dimension that mathematically rids the theory of any further anomalies. In this 11th dimension a string could acquire enough energy to expand infinitely into what scientists call a floating membrane. According to the theory, our universe exists on a floating membrane, along with infinite parallel universes on their own membranes. From this foundation, it was further found that (mathematically) gravity might “leak” into our membrane from another nearby membrane, accounting for its relatively weak force in comparison to the other forces.
By introducing the 11th dimension, M-Theory successfully united the “competing” theories of string theory. Scientists saw the different theories were actually multiple ways of approaching the same theory, much like the old proverb about the blind men each touching a different part of an elephant offering seemingly conflicting observations. M-Theory also provided another crucial aspect of the puzzle in that it explained how the Big Bang might have occurred, with two membranes colliding. The energy produced from such a collision is mathematical consistent with what is known from existing science.
I often think about life, and how small we are in the universe, and if my life has any meaning whatsoever. When people say we are just a small piece of the puzzle, I guess that makes sense, but in the scheme of things and my life, I guess I have to do good to those around me and I will be happy. No matter how many universes, and dimensions, and string theories there are, all that matters is what is inside my body, and how I can use my knowledge, education, and do goodedness to help those around me. I guess I want the ultimate goal is to be content in life, and to always know that whatever decision we make as human beings, it is for the good and not the evil.