• Question: Can you explain string theory?

    Asked by yeuk532dows3 on 28 Oct 2025.
    • Photo: Niamh Topping

      Niamh Topping answered on 28 Oct 2025:

      Unfortunately it’s not my area of expertise! My basic understanding is that the theory says that instead of particles being “points” they’re actually tiny one-dimensional “strings” that vibrate…but that’s all I know!

    • Photo: Jonathan Mound

      Jonathan Mound answered on 3 Nov 2025:

      It is a theory that tries to explain and connect both the very small (sub-atomic particles) and the very large (the structure of the universe). In addition to the idea that particles are actually tiny one-dimensional vibrating strings, it assumes that the universe has more dimensions than the 1 time and 3 space dimensions that we are familiar with. What that “really means” and how that can all work and be consistent with the observations we have was mathematically more complex than I could ever wrap my head around.

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