# The String Theory of the Universe
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-string-theory-of-the-universe/6834
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [February 3, 2000, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-string-theory-of-the-universe/6834 "2000-02-03T02:39:00Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2000, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-string-theory-of-the-universe/6834/1 "2000-02-03T02:39:00Z")
Igot involved as a listener the other night where several of my science addict friends were talking about the string theory of the universe where Einstein attemped to explain time-space-and gravity concepts into natural law. It was late at night and the concepts went right over my head.
What exactly is the string theory? Is it valid?
* * *
A large pizza pie normally has 12 slices but I can’t possibly eat that many slices so I have them cut it up into 6 slices.
unknown
---
### Author:  [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2000, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-string-theory-of-the-universe/6834/2 "2000-02-03T02:56:00Z")
This is not the kind of thing Your going to be able to learn in a post or two. I’d suggest a good book on the subject.
In a nutshell:
String theory is the current best guess for a theory of everything.
“String” describes the behavior of certain very small particles and the fact that their behavior can best be described as an elastic string on a probability curve.
It’s hard to describe without math.
---
### Author:  [@Alphagene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alphagene)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2000, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-string-theory-of-the-universe/6834/3 "2000-02-03T05:59:00Z")
Here’s a decent summary: [http://www.superstringtheory.com/](http://www.superstringtheory.com/)
* * *
I used to rock and roll all night and party every day. Then it was every other day. Now I’m lucky if I can find a half an hour a week in which to get funky.
---
### Author:  [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2000, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-string-theory-of-the-universe/6834/4 "2000-02-03T07:38:00Z")
Alphagene and Scylla: After reading a great deal at the web site rec. by Alphagene, I can see with even greater clarity why everything went right over my head. Thanks for your responses.
---
### Author:  [@JoeyBlades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoeyBlades)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2000, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-string-theory-of-the-universe/6834/5 "2000-02-03T14:06:00Z")
A really, really good book on the subject is Brian Green’s “The Elegant Universe”. It’s not too technical or formula laden and he uses a lot of excellent graphics to help get his points across.
BTW, you wrote:
> [@](#):
>
> my science addict friends were talking about the string theory of the universe where Einstein attemped to explain time-space-and gravity concepts into natural law.
Technical nit picking, but Einstein did not count string theory in his repetoir of tools. It’s a fairly recent theory.
---
### Author:  [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)
#### Post date: [February 5, 2000, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-string-theory-of-the-universe/6834/6 "2000-02-05T17:37:00Z")
A high school buddy of mine went on to get his Ph.D. in theoretical physics from Harvard , specializing in string theory.
Once, he gave me a paper he had gotten published to read. The first sentence of the paper – the broad statement designed to draw the reader in – was: “ **Orbiforms define consistent string vacua.** ” From there, the paper got a bit technical.
Another time, I asked him to explain generally what string theory was. After four sheets of paper were covered with equations, I cried for mercy.
Anyway, as somebody who knows a string theorist, my advice is that if you’re talking with one at a cocktail party, keep the conversation on the ball game and not on work.
---
### Author:  [@NanoByte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NanoByte)
#### Post date: [February 5, 2000, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-string-theory-of-the-universe/6834/7 "2000-02-05T23:47:00Z")
They do call it that because it strings you along for quite a bit, until you’re thoroughly strung out, don’t they?
Ray (not so much of enlightenment)
* * *
“The more the universe seems comprehensible, the more it also seems pointless.” – Steven Weinberg, Physicist