String theory?

[The Douche]

Can anybody explain this to me in some sort of semi-understandable way? Or reccomend a useful book that can really break it down?

[The Vegan Marxist]

This is one of the best places to get started on understanding the String Theory:

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/string-theory-for-dummies-cheat-sheet.html

[The Douche]

Thanks bro.

[khad]

Superstrings is some overrated "theory" if you call it that that has gained superstardom due to its promotion from various prominent academics, all without any verifiable evidence to back it up. There are rival theories which have produced results, such as Extended Heim-Droscher, but these are considered heterodox.

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

String theory is interesting, but I can't shake the feeling that it's more a branch of mathematics than physics.

[B5C]

I would highly recommend "The Elegant Universe" by Brian Greene. The book makes it easier for folks to understand string theory for the average layperson and also makes quantum mechanics simple as well.

[Zav]

There really isn't much evidence to back it up. It's a very interesting theory, but unless it produces something to give it some credibility, it isn't of much concern.

[B0LSHEVIK]

I dont think anyone has addressed the OP's original point, that is to explain the theory, not simply dismiss it. And its not quite a theory yet.

In general, there are two worlds of physics. One is the easily observable, which Einstein explained, ie everyday actions, the solar system, the universe, etc. Than there is the not so easily detectable world, the sub-atomic, which quantum physics explains. So while in combination they explain and predict the known universe, they are two worlds which cannot coexist. One is wrong, and most likely, both are wrong.

String theory (not really a theory though) is mainly attached to quantum physics, though it tries to bridge or better yet, substitute both as universal law. It has to do mainly with particle interactions occuring at a single point of spacetime, at zero distance between the interacting particles, the point at which modern physics breaks down. Im not a physicist, but most physicists will dismiss it because it doesnt really result in a prediction. In other words its highly untestable because everything depends on random variables that cannot be predicted. And a untestable idea in science is always useless. Though it could be that we are still too technologically backward to test it.