The String Theory (1)
The theoretical physicist Gabriele Veneziano set the foundations of the Superstring Theory at the end of the 1960s. His ideas formed the String Theory. Since then, the theory was enriched, experimentally tested and presented as Superstring Theory.
The Superstring Theory at its most contemporary form composes an advanced mathematical model which describes the function of the microcosm, of the macrocosm, of space, of time, of all the elementary particles and of all the natural forces. In other words, it makes an attempt to unify everything, which is the reason why it is called Theory of Everything. However, apart from this, the theory gives a new dimension to reality… or to be more specific, many more, as it ascribes 10 dimensions to the universe (while classical physics ascribes 4 – the three dimensions of space plus time). So, we understand 4 dimensions, but there exist 6 more which have not been “unwrapped” for us!
At its evolution (Bert Ovrut, 2001), the theory presented a universe with 11 dimensions and was extrapolated to the theory of M – strings, where “M” is translated as “mother” (“the mother of theories”) or as (“membrane”) as it supposes that the strings with the appropriate vibration form membranes of dimensions capable of forming a universe! As a matter of fact, our universe seems to be floating over such a membrane of 11 dimensions, while there are more (parallel) universes.
The String Theory aims to reach the Theory of Everything. This theory aims to unite gravity with quantum mechanics. The Theory of Everything, however, is striking to Gödel’s theorem of incompleteness. According to this theorem, no typical closed system is consistent. Namely, no typical closed consistent system can prove its consistency. In order for a system to be consistent, it has to be in – consistent, i.e. it must have in its core the non – provability of its consistency. Only an open, i.e. non consistent system can prove its consistency.
String theory and ancient knowledge
The ancient philosophy would agree with that theory while both in the East and the West, for thousand of years, the ancient wise men have been teaching the Principle of Unity which presents Nature as a whole, a unity in which nothing is separate and everything depends on everything and is connected to everything! Material and force, living and non living creatures, visible and invisible beings are nothing more but the expression of a Nature, of a Force that could easily be the TAO of the Chinese, or the BEING of Parmenides, or the Fire of Heraclitus or the ONE of Pythagoras!
The fact that the material and the forces that manifest in the Universe are nothing more than the result of vibrations, of a “cosmic music” or symphony is reported on an ancient text called “Kybalion” as well. This text was considered to be Hellenistic and mentions the 7 Principles (or Laws) that govern the universe. A more careful study has shown that these Laws are more ancient since they were found in Egypt, carved in the walls of the pyramid of Unas of the fifth dynasty (a not so famous and well preserved pyramid). The third Law of this ancient text is reported as the “Principle of Vibration” and mentions: “Nothing rests. Everything is moving, everything is vibrating.”
This Principle reminds us of the words of Heraclitus “Everything flows” with which the Greek philosopher meant that everything is continuously moving or vibrating and are continuously being transformed. Birth, change, decay and death get involved in a nonstop circle. Everything – people, plants, planets or galaxies – are born, transformed and die contributing to that infinite vibration, to that “cosmic music”. This infinite move, which is LIFE itself, is stated, among others, by the famous Chinese symbol of YIN YANG that was chosen by Nils Bohr as his symbol.
The String Theory (2)
At school, we learned that the material is composed of molecules, which are constituted by atoms. In turn, the atoms are composed of smaller particles: protons, neutrons and electrons which as well arise from combinations of tiny “quarks”.
The General Theory of Relativity teaches us that every piece of material equals to an amount of energy (Ε=mc2) and all these elementary particles are nothing more than expressions of specific amounts of energy. In other words, what we understand as material is nothing more than energy that is vibrating at a “slow pace”.
Here comes the Superstring theory to lead us a lot further, as it describes the material, even its tiniest particles as the result of a vibration of infinitesimal cosmic strings or “superstrings”! These strings may be closed, as loops, or open as hair. A string is smaller than an electron as a mouse is smaller than the whole solar system! Theoretically speaking, such a string has a length of 10-33 cm (!) and includes force equal to 1039 tones (!). Something as tiny as it gets is capable of structuring the universe!
According to Superstring Theory, the matter at its whole and the forces of nature are nothing more than results of the vibrations of these infinitesimal strings! It is something similar to a guitar string which depending on its voltage and the frequency with which it vibrates, it produces specific musical notes.
In that way, the Superstring Theory brings us at the threshold of the music of the World about which Pythagoras, who believed in the mathematical harmony of the universe, talked about thousands of years ago. According to Pythagoras, the Numbers, as cosmic archetypes, keep the secret of the creation of the universe and all contribute to a cosmic harmony.
Heraclitus prevails
Finally, the findings of Einstein may also have put an end to classical controversy between the Greek schools of Heraclitus and Parmenides. The latter philosopher held that all is One and that motion is an illusion, while Heraclitus stated just the opposite, namely that motionlessness is an illusion and that everything is always in a permanent state of motion and change. While the Parmenidean argument may be given some credit for using clever metaphors (from an arrow’s perspective the archer is moving away), it is now firmly established that the physical world looks much more Heraclitean than Parmenidean. Even if an object appears to be at rest in a designated reference frame, it still travels through time.