• Question: If string theory was correct and string theory states there are little strings at about 10-33 cm. The problem is that according to the basis of E=MC2 pure energy should just... well explode. So how do we explain there existence?

    Asked by Anon to Saiful, Petra, Jenny, Jawwad, Iain, Bethan on 18 Jan 2017.
    • Photo: Bethan Charles

      Bethan Charles answered on 18 Jan 2017:


      String theory is a very complex theory proposed by scientists to try to understand why our universe works in the way it does. The problem with existing physical theories (like quantum mechanics and relativity) is that they fail to explain some things that happen in our universe…..black holes being one of the main examples.

      String theory proposes that instead of tiny particles being the basic building blocks of matter, in fact everything is made of vibrating 1 dimensional ‘strings’.

      The problem is when things get this small, stuff starts to get strange. So in fact these ‘strings’ are not like a string of rope. The word of the very very small behaves in a way that we just cannot visualise (for example things can be in 2 places at once!)

      Just like you and I speak English, the language of our Universe is maths. String theory (and theories like it) use maths to describe what we observe.

      I guess the short answer to that explanation is that no one really knows what exactly happens with these ‘strings’. But if the maths matches what we observe then that theory is a good way to describe our universe.

Comments