Could One (String) Theory Be Reality?

       Imagine someone walks up to you and simply says “string theory” and walks away. You’d be confused, maybe even intrigued. A simple Google search would tell you that string theory is something in physics that would explain the origins of the universe. But as the name states, it is a theory. Science is based upon the idea that everything we believe is true can be proven, yet so many scientists dedicate their time to studying string theory. Is there ever a point when scientists will stop to ask if it is worth spending their lives trying to figure out whether or not the universe started from a bunch of little strings moving around?

        Well, according to Chris Search, a current physics professor working at Stevens Institute of Technology, string theory is just that—a theory. When Dr. Search was asked if he believed in string theory, he scoffed and stated that without testable evidence, there was no reason to spend time learning about it. But this begs the question: why do people continue to research string theory if no progress has been made in making string theory a reality?

Of course, the universe started somewhere, but if you ask most people who believe in science, they would say the Big Bang, not a bunch of little teeny-tiny string-like particles. Symmetry Magazine’s “String Theory: Explain it in 60 seconds,” explains string theory as the origins of our universe being one-dimensional strings, not points like many believe. So essentially, these strings exist within at least 6 dimensions of space, which from our understanding can not currently be proven because we are in 3D space and time. 

Since there is no current way to determine if there is a possibility for more dimensions that we have not discovered, the Smithsonian Magazine tries to explain how string theory can be proven in their “Why String Theory Still Offers Hope We Can Unify Physics,” by supersymmetry. The idea is that every essential particle, i.e., protons and electrons, is doubled, which alludes to extra dimensions. But with more dimensions, that opens the idea of possible multiverses. And if I speak for most people, I’m asking myself if I need to believe in the possibility that the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s continuous mention of multiverses is a reality, not just movie magic. And honestly, I don’t know if I should buy it.

When we had a real-life physicist say that string theory is essentially a means to find God in physics, it changes how you think about theories about the earth’s origins. With the current world developing technology rapidly and the decline in physics discoveries over the last century, physicists have attempted to prove string theory for nearly seventy years. But there has been no proof after all of this time, even with many researchers dedicating their lives to the study. At what point do physicists need to let go of the idea of string theory? Because that’s all it is right now, a theory.


-Isabel Gringeri 09/25/2022

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