Homework Week10: Summary on "What if string theory is WRONG?" by Sten Odenwald and "String Theory and the Unification of Forces" by Sunil Mukhi

Summary on: What if string theory is WRONG?

This article introduces the string theory, which is based on three key ideas that remain experimentally unproven after 30 years of research: the principle of supersymmetry; additional spatial dimensions; and gravity as a force defined by the exchange of quantum particles. If it is true, the string theory will bring us the birth of the first unified description of the physical world, and there are trillions of other universes exist paralleled with ours. However, if it is wrong, string theory would be the most spectacular wrong-turn science has ever taken. Even it is wrong, the string theory bing us the intriguing philosophical prospects for the multiverse, with its infinite and eternal creativity in spawning new universes.

Summary on: String Theory and the Unification of Forces

This article introduces that string theory will help us to reach unified theories, which was a dream of Einstein. Einstein was among the earliest to propose that such a unified field theory must exist. However, even if that beautiful theory exists, we are not yet sure that it correctly describes nature. However, if it exists, it broadly describes a world similar to ours, and is endowed with beauty and consistency to an astonishing degree.

Comparison:

These two articles introduce the most front theory in physical science. If the string theory is correct, we would have ``explained'' one of the most deep and abiding mysteries since the dawn of civilization: why does our world have the dimensionality that it has? If string theory would be the wrong theory of nature, we may still learn something about the right theory.

Reference:
1. Sten Odenwald, What if string theory is WRONG?"
2. Sunil Mukhi, String Theory and the Unification of Forces" by Sunil Mukhi,  http://theory.tifr.res.in/~mukhi/Physics/string.html