Chapter 6, Nothing but Music, The Essentials of Superstring Theory Summary and Analysis

Superstring theory suggests the microscopic world is awash with tiny strings "whose vibrational patterns orchestrate the evolution of the cosmos" (p. 135). These are one-dimensional filaments that are the absolute smallest building blocks in nature. Replacing point-particles with strings solves the mathematical discrepancies encountered between quantum mechanics and general relativity. Michael Green and John Schwarz published a paper in 1984 claiming that string theory encompassed the four forces of matter as well, thus beginning the first superstring revolution. The equations of string theory are so difficult that only approximate equations have been deduced thus far. Though string theory is compelling, we do not yet know if it is correct: the Planck length is so small that no one has been able to directly observe activity at that...