Are there parallel worlds? DAN FALK details how string theory -- the so-called theory of everything -- might explain the structure of the universe. Of course, for it to work, there have to be a few extra dimensions
By DAN FALK Saturday, January 3, 2004 - Page F7 We live in three dimensions: You can go north-south, east-west or up-down. Simple enough. If you add one more dimension for time -- as Albert Einstein suggested -- that's four altogether. That's plenty for most of us. And, until recently, it would have been enough for most physicists as well. But the past few years have brought a flurry of new ideas about the structure of the universe, and physicists are now contemplating multidimensional worlds that put our seemingly-three-dimensional surroundings to shame. It all starts with string theory, which attempts to unify gravity with the other forces of nature. In the string picture, the most fundamental "bits" of matter are not point-like particles but rather one-dimensional loops of string. But to make the theory consistent -- to make the math work out -- string theory relies on a framework involving extra dimensions. "String theory is the only theory we know about that consistently puts in quantum mechanics and gravity, and it necessarily has other dimensions," says Lisa Randall of Harvard University. Complete article...... http://tinyurl.com/24oxz or http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20040103/ DIMENSION03/Comment/Idx _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
