lawrocket 3 #1 June 15, 2004 I saw billvon mention it, and I've heard of it. So, what exactly is it? My wife is hotter than your wife. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #2 June 15, 2004 http://superstringtheory.com/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
miked10270 0 #3 June 15, 2004 Isn't it something to do with there never being enough string left over from tying something up to comfortably tie a knot in it? Mike. Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable. Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
unformed 0 #4 June 15, 2004 something a scientist invented to make your head hurt. it has to do with working with more than four dimensions.This ad space for sale. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,084 #5 June 15, 2004 It's a theory of quantum mechanics that postulates that tiny strings, existing within a set of 10 to 26 dimensions, vibrate at certain frequencies. These strings and their vibrations give rise to the elementary particles that make up matter and energy as we know it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
misskriss 0 #6 June 15, 2004 I attempted to read this book because my daughter got through it. I tried to grasp the concept and just when I thought I understood it , it disappeared. I gave up. She borrowed it from her father and read it to the very end. Then again she's a math, science genius. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0375708111/qid=1087343757/sr=ka-1/ref=pd_ka_1/104-4266966-1863149 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RoadRash 0 #7 June 16, 2004 QuoteIt's a theory of quantum mechanics that postulates that tiny strings, existing within a set of 10 to 26 dimensions, vibrate at certain frequencies. These strings and their vibrations give rise to the elementary particles that make up matter and energy as we know it. Well put...Between what Bill said and this...... Quotesomething a scientist invented to make your head hurt. it has to do with working with more than four dimensions. That is how I understand it...I tried discussing it with a friend of mine...but the conversation became so convoluded neither of us understood WTF was going on... ~R+R...Never have a conversation about theories with a math guru on Espresso......~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Fly the friendly skies...^_^...})ii({...^_~... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
turtlespeed 226 #8 June 16, 2004 Oh Come ON! It goes like this - Jump out, Do a little trick, Pull your string Hence the string theory - Gheese - Quantum theory, physics and mechanics - when will you people learn?I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pajarito 0 #9 June 16, 2004 I can never find my pull-up cord... Get it?........string.......theory...... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,113 #10 June 16, 2004 Click here... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,113 #12 June 16, 2004 Quoteyou are cute.. All the girls say that . Take a ticket, get in line.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DivaSkyChick 0 #13 June 16, 2004 There's a great book by Brian Greene called The Elegant Universe which really explains it well. I understand that PBS did a special on the book which is probably easier to follow, but the book is written well and I (mostly) was able to wrap my head around it. --- www.facebook.com/mandyhamptonfitch Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zennie 0 #14 June 17, 2004 Dammit, I need to get 460 in here... not like he has a PhD in Atomic Physics or anything.... - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
misskriss 0 #15 June 17, 2004 QuoteThere's a great book by Brian Greene called The Elegant Universe which really explains it well. I understand that PBS did a special on the book which is probably easier to follow, but the book is written well and I (mostly) was able to wrap my head around it. I linked that book in my earlier post but unlike you I couldn't wrap my head around it.. I ended up throwing it at the wall. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nacmacfeegle 0 #16 June 17, 2004 Zen, its easy, the string is the stuff that holds the fabric of the universe together. Got It?-------------------- He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
genoyamamoto 0 #17 June 17, 2004 String theory is cute. However, as usual with anything that theorists do nowadays, it's pretty useless. It's fun to talk about it tho over a cup of coffee, so maybe it's not so useless afterall... Gotta go... plaything needs to spank me Feel the hate... Photos here Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
happythoughts 0 #18 June 17, 2004 String theory is the illustration of the difference between the finite and infinite universes. To understand it, do this. Take a piece of string. It has a finite length because it has a starting point and an ending point. It has two ends that define its length. Now, cut off the ends. You have a piece of string with no ends. A string with no ends is infinitely long. Wasn't that simple? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,113 #19 June 17, 2004 QuoteString theory is cute. However, as usual with anything that theorists do nowadays, it's pretty useless. It's fun to talk about it tho over a cup of coffee, so maybe it's not so useless afterall... A bold statement. Stuff that theorists were doing 10 years ago is showing up in our computers and comm systems now. Stuff they are doing now will give us quantum computers in 10 - 15 years time. You want a time machine or a Star Trek transporter? You'd better study some theory.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,084 #20 June 17, 2004 >However, as usual with anything that theorists do nowadays, it's pretty useless. Especially ironic that you used a computer connected to the Internet to post that. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
genoyamamoto 0 #21 June 17, 2004 Quote A bold statement. Stuff that theorists were doing 10 years ago is showing up in our computers and comm systems now. Such as? I think there's a definite difference between applied science and basic research. Perhaps your idea of a theorist is not the same as mine, since I work in high energy physics. I'd consider Bob Jaffe, Frank Wilczek et. al. theorists. Well being in "the business" i'd be happy to hear how you think theory at < planck scale can give us in 10 years time. I'd love to hear about any measurable observable that string theorists can provide to test their theory. Gotta go... plaything needs to spank me Feel the hate... Photos here Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
genoyamamoto 0 #22 June 17, 2004 Quote>However, as usual with anything that theorists do nowadays, it's pretty useless. Especially ironic that you used a computer connected to the Internet to post that. Would you find it ironic that I work with theorists and even do a bit of theory myself? edit: oh and no i don't do string theory. you have to be smart for that stuff. Gotta go... plaything needs to spank me Feel the hate... Photos here Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,084 #23 June 17, 2004 >Would you find it ironic that I work with theorists and even do a bit of theory myself? Not at all! But when I went to school, the Arpanet was sort of an intellectual toy, a thing to hack on and try things out. Turned out to be pretty useful. Maxwell's equations have given rise to railguns, ion engines, super efficient motors, spectrometers, MRI scanners, and a lot of other cool stuff. Someday string theory will allow us to travel to the stars the same way Newton's theories got us to the moon. Useless now perhaps, but they won't stay that way for long. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nacmacfeegle 0 #24 June 18, 2004 "Now, cut off the ends. You have a piece of string with no ends. A string with no ends is infinitely long. Wasn't that simple?" Take a strip of paper, say about 6inches long, by 1 inch wide, put a half twist in it, and tape the ends together. Now you have a single sided piece of paper with only one edge and no thickness! If you take the strings talked about above and thread a whole pile of mobius loops onto them, you have the makings of a lot of confused people. Mobius bottles are pretty cool too.-------------------- He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Luna 0 #25 June 18, 2004 QuoteQuoteThere's a great book by Brian Greene called The Elegant Universe which really explains it well. I understand that PBS did a special on the book which is probably easier to follow, but the book is written well and I (mostly) was able to wrap my head around it. I linked that book in my earlier post but unlike you I couldn't wrap my head around it.. I ended up throwing it at the wall. For those who had trouble understanding the book, and if you have high speed internet, here is a link to view the 3 hour NOVA program, which I found very easy to follow (the video is broken into much smaller chunks). http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/elegant/program.html I'm walking a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click Here for more information! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
