This Month's Topic: String Theory Demystified
Modern physics has reduced the complexity of the world to two grand theories: (1) general relativity, the theory of gravity, and (2) quantum mechanics, the theory of the very small. Each theory agrees with experiment beautifully, but only in its own realm. Where the two realms overlap — inside black holes, say, and deep inside the atomic nucleus — these two mighty theories contradict each other. Most physicists agree that string theory offers our best hope of reconciliation. It is a candidate "theory of everything" that shows promise in explaining the "standard model" of all ordinary matter. But can string theory go further? Can it make predictions that are testable? Can it be mathematically elegant? Theorists like Shamit Kachru are working to find out.
About the series: Ask a Scientist is an informative, entertaining science lecture series, held at a San Francisco cafe. Each event features a speaker on a current topic, a short presentation, and the opportunity to ask all those burning questions that have been keeping you up at night. No tests, grades, or pressure…just food, drinks, socializing, and conversation about the universe’s most fascinating mysteries!
Official Website: http://www.askascientistSF.com
Added by fourquarts on December 21, 2006