M-Theory/Super String Theory?

[Meldread]

I am wondering how many people have heard of M-Theory / Super String Theory and what folks think of it?

If you don't know what it is you can watch "The Elegant Universe":
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/elegant/program_t.html

It's an interesting theory, but I don't hear much about it anymore. Have there been any new developments? What is the take on it around here? Also, how many heads do you think will explode if M-Theory becomes accepted as mainstream like Evolution? (Because, I think if folks have trouble swallowing Evolution, that some of the things M-Theory suggests will be 100x worse!)

[BlueEyedSon]

1. His book is good too

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0375727205/qid=1127267332/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-6605290-1948866?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

[daninthemoon]

2. Saw the show awhile back. Gotta admit, it got past me. I catch on

to most things, but...The thing I still don't get, is why so many dimensions are necessary. It seemed like a lot of work for a reason I didn't grasp.

[aquart]

3. Bookmarked the link. Thank you!

Never got to see the whole series.

[bullimiami]

4. in this land where evolution and creationism are co-equal for some...

most people are still struggling with gravity.

few people have even heard of strings let alone superstings or m-theory.
fascinating stuff though. I love theoretical physics (dumbed down of course)


of course for a physicist with real personality and brains

http://www.mkaku.org/

[anarch]

9. I think working on M-theory is tantamount to struggling with gravity

but then again I'm verging on obsession with this topic :)

[Geoff R. Casavant]

5. There was an update

in a recent issue of Discover or Scientific American, to the effect that experimental methods are finally getting refined enough to actually start verifying the theoretical predictions.

[longship]

6. Cutting edge.

You don't hear much about it because the theory is only practiced at places which don't often have public exposure, e.g., Physics Review, etc., deep in academia, and places like Fermilab and CERN.

The way I understand it, things are going strong in the M-theory universe. There are those who are resistant to it, but that is inevitable and good.

By all means, Brian Green's new book is a good introduction to things.

[tridim]

7. It drives me nuts

Last time I watched the series I spent two days online reading about it. It's mind blowing.

I wish I knew about it in my LSD days. ;)

[Dudley_DUright]

8. As an experimental physicist, I think it would be nice if my

string theorist brethren could come up with some testable predictions. :-) Interestingly, Ed Witten, one of the foremost theorists in this area was a history major as an undergrad at Brandeis, and once worked as an aid in the presidential campaign of George McGovern.

http://www.sns.ias.edu/~witten/

I got to see his famous M-theory talk at a physics conference a few years ago. He is really an amazing guy.

[anarch]

10. This is one of the best recent "theory of everything" books, IMHO

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0465078362/102-2468419-5491366?v=glance


Just remember what Richard Feynman says in his introduction to QED, a well established and practically useful theory, which is surely twice as apt regarding string theory:

"What I am going to tell you about is what we teach our physics students in the third or fourth year of graduate school... It is my task to convince you not to turn away because you don't understand it. You see my physics students don't understand it. ... That is because I don't understand it. Nobody does."

(Feynman, Richard P. Nobel Lecture, 1966, 1918-1988, QED, The Strange Theory of Light and Matter)

[Buck Turgidson]

11. BTW, There are Feynman lectures available online

Richard Feynman: The Douglas Robb Memorial Lectures

A set of four priceless archival recordings from the University of Auckland (New Zealand) of the outstanding Nobel prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman - arguably the greatest science lecturer ever. Although the recording is of modest technical quality the exceptional personal style and unique delivery shine through.

http://www.vega.org.uk/series/lectures/feynman/

[rman]

12. in moving color pictures with sound

no less

this is golden

[Buck Turgidson]

13. So what do you think of the Good Doctor?

I've read some of his books. And watched the lectures. I learn something new from this brilliant man each and every time that he speaks.

Nevertheless,sometimes he comes across as a bit of a dick. The audience laughs at what seem to be obvious cues, but then he slaps them down for finding humor in it.

<shrug>Oh, well.

[rman]

14. Nobody's perfect

I read some of his books and saw some of the lectures. The man is a genius, and quite likable in so far i can judge it.