String Theory (Introduction)
[A few paragraphs from a book I'm writing on the String Theory 👽 ]
For more than half a century, even in the midst of myriad great scientific achievements, there has been a dark cloud on the horizon, threatening modern physics. The 20th century demonstrated the construction of the two foundational pillars on which physics now stands. The first of these supports is Albert Einstein's General Relativity; the conception provides a theoretical framework to understand the Universe on the most prodigious of scales: stars, clusters of stars, galaxies, clusters of galaxies, etc. The other is Quantum Mechanics which provides the framework to understand the Universe on the most miniscule of scales: molecules, atoms, leptons, quarks, etc. Both of these pillars have seemingly been experimentally proven throughout the decades. They seem sturdy and unwavering; however, there is a disturbing conclusion that we have come to realize. As they are currently formulated, General Relativity and Quantum Mechanics cannot both be right; they are mutually incompatible. The reason for this is quite simple in actuality. For the vast majority of their time, physicists only need to use Quantum or Relativity; they are not needed to be used together. Though at the end of the day, the Universe can very well provide extreme cases that call for both. The most paramount of these cases celestial entities called Black Holes. These fallen stars have taken an enormous mass and crushed it into microscopic size. That means that Relativity is necessary due to the singularity. When Relativity equations are paired with Quantum equations, the elicits impossible and nonsensical answers. These typically manifest as probabilities coming out to OVER 100% It makes no mathematical sense for a probability to be greater than "certain"; there is an undeniable crack at the bases of these foundational pillars. Could it really be that its core, the Universe, is divided? The "Superstring" theory answers with a resounding "NO". Intense research by physicists and mathematicians around the world demonstrate that this theory eases the tension between the contrasting Relativity and Quantum Mechanics. In fact, the Superstring theory takes an extra step by proposing a framework that actually requires both Quantum Mechanics and General Relativity. It not only fixes an unhappy gap, it demonstrates an inevitable marriage of laws. On a related note, Einstein spent decades searching for a unified theory, a theoretical tapestry comprised of all natural forces and material constituents. He failed. The String theory provides a new possibility for this theory of everything. It provides the chance to see that everything in the Universe of all magnitudes are simply manifestations of the same one grand physical principal.