Slashdot Mirror


Strings Link the Ultra-Cold With the Super-Hot

gabrlknght writes "Superstring theory claims the power to explain the universe, but critics say it can't be tested by experiment. Lately, though, string math has helped explain a couple of surprising experiments creating 'perfect liquids' at cosmic extremes of hot and cold. 'Both systems can be described as something like a shadow world sitting in a higher dimension. Strongly coupled particles are linked by ripples traveling through the extra dimension, says Steinberg, of Brookhaven. String math describing such ripples stems from an idea called the holographic principle, used by string theorists to describe certain kinds of black holes. A black hole's entropy depends on its surface area — as though all the information in its three-dimensional interior is stored on its two-dimensional surface. (The 'holographic' label is an allusion to ordinary holograms, where 3-D images are coated on a 2-D surface, like an emblem on a credit card.) The holographic principle has value because in some cases the math for a complex 3-D system (neglecting time) can be too hard to solve, but the equivalent 4-D math provides simpler equations to describe the same phenomena.'"

2 of 236 comments (clear)

  1. Re:More faith than science by geekoid · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Here is the thing. There are people that understand it, and can explain it. Just because you need a Phd to understand it.

    You are right to be skeptical, but don't confuse not being able to understand something with it not being understandable.

    It also make predictions.

    There are tests, we need a certain collider to come on line...

    --
    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  2. Re:String "Theory" is Retarded by JohnFluxx · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Why are people modding this up?

    A thin hologram can be represented truly as a 2D surface. You can print a thin hologram out using a laser printer and transparencies. You can even display a hologram on a TFT.

    The fact that you don't even understand holograms makes me wonder why you are even commenting on string theory.

    It's become very popular these days to bash string theory, yet noone has an alternative.

    People like sexconker want to remove grant money from research into any new theory until they have a theory that is complete. And yet it can't be completed with people actually working on it.