Background Information on
String Theory and M-theory

Superstrings

At a time when certain pundits are predicting the End of Science on the grounds that all the important discoveries have already been made, it is worth emphasizing that the two main pillars of 20th-century physics, quantum mechanics and Einstein's general theory of relativity, are mutually incompatible. General relativity fails to comply with the quantum rules that govern the behavior of elementary particles, whereas on the opposite scale, black holes are challenging the very foundations of quantum mechanics. Something big has to give. This predicament augurs less the bleak future of diminishing returns predicted by the millennial jeremiahs and more another scientific revolution.

Until recently, the best hope for a theory that would unite gravity with quantum mechanics and describe all physical phenomena was based on strings: one-dimensional objects whose modes of vibration represent the elementary particles. In the past few years, however, strings have been subsumed by M-theory. In the words of the guru of string theory, Edward Witten of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, "M stands for Magic, Mystery or Membrane, according to taste." New evidence in favor of this theory is appearing daily, representing the most exciting development since strings first swept onto the scene.

Each year about 300 or so of the world's leading theoretical physicists gather at the annual international strings conference to discuss the latest developments in string theory and M-theory. The Millennial edition of this conference, "Strings 2000" was hosted by the University of Michigan, July 10-15. The following conference, Strings 2001, will be held in India from January 5-10, 2001.

Web links

• String Theory Web Site, Patricia Schwarz
• Superstrings, John Pierre
• Into the eleventh dimension, Michio Kaku
• The theory formerly known as strings, Scientific American, Michael Duff
• The superstring symphony, Der Speigel (in german)
• The world in eleven dimensions: supergravity, supermembranes and M-theory, Michael Duff
• String theory and the unification of forces, Sunil Mukhi
• The second superstring revolution, John Schwarz
• M-theory, Cambridge relativity group

Further Reading

• M.J. Duff, C. Sutton, The membrane at the end of the universe, New Scientist 118 (1988) 67-71.
• Brian Greene, The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory.

Public Lecture - "Space and Time Since Einstein"

On Monday July 10 there was a free public lecture entitled "Space and Time Since Einstein" given by Brian Greene of Columbia University.

Click here for additional information.

Millennial Madness

In 1900 the world-renowned mathematician David Hilbert presented twenty-three problems at the International Congress of Mathematicians in Paris. These problems have inspired mathematicians throughout the last century. Some have yet to be solved.

As a piece of millennial madness, participants of the Strings 2000 conference were asked to help formulate the 10 most important unsolved problems in fundamental physics.

Here is the resulting list of problems!

 

Return to the Strings 2000 Home Page...