Articles tagged with String Theory
Physicists have discovered a method to test string theory, a fundamental concept that attempts to reconcile quantum mechanics and general relativity. The breakthrough enables researchers to verify string theory's predictions about entangled quantum particles.
Using gauge/gravity duality, researchers identified a system with unusual properties similar to strange metals, which can be explained by gravitational mechanics. This approach may shed light on other materials and predict their behavior.
Physicist Garrett Lisi proposed a 'theory of everything' centered on the enigmatic E8, but Emory mathematician Skip Garibaldi and colleague Jacques Distler found fatal flaws in its math. The resulting paper shows that E8's unique structure cannot unify the universe's forces as Lisi claimed.
Researchers Sang-Wook Cheong and Daniel Friedan receive American Physical Society prizes for their work on multiferroics and critical phenomena, respectively. Their discoveries have potential applications in semiconductor electronics, solar cells, and data storage.
A team of researchers has discovered a compact way to produce infrared light using a miniscule tunnel in a stack of gold and silica layers. This tiny, tunable light source could be the precursor to a new component for light-based chips. String theorists have also developed a toolkit of equations to measure the predictions of string the...
Experts Peter Cox and Hazel Jeffrey examine potential geoengineering initiatives, including carbon-dioxide removal and solar-radiation management, as a crucial alternative to common mitigation methods. The schemes have different benefits, costs, and risks associated, but may offer a better benefit-to-cost ratio than conventional methods.
Researchers discuss how physics is changing our understanding of cells, brain function, and the potential role of quantum mechanics in biology. Paul Davies suggests that fundamental quantum processes could be key to understanding life's origins.
Researchers used AdS/CFT correspondence in string theory to describe electrons' quantum-critical state, which plays a role in high-temperature superconductivity. The discovery bridges the gap between macroscopic and microscopic worlds.
The NIST super-sensors will look for subtle fingerprints in the cosmic microwave background from primordial gravitational waves, potentially detectable today. A detection would provide clear evidence for the inflation theory and insights into string theory models.
The American Institute of Physics (AIP) awards the 2009 Dannie Heineman Prizes to Carlo Becchi, Alain Rouet, Raymond Stora, and Igor Tyutin for their discovery and exploitation of BRST symmetry in gauge theories. Lennox Cowie receives the astrophysics prize for his innovative observations of the distant universe.
Researchers at Duke University and Brookhaven National Laboratory have observed striking similarities between ultracold gas clouds and ultrahot plasmas. Both exhibit near-perfect fluid flow and anisotropic expansion, expanding like 'exploding cigars'.
Individual investors are liquidating their holdings at record levels due to economic loss, opting for a risk-averse approach despite prospect theory's predictions. The MSU research challenges widely accepted behavioral theory, suggesting people prioritize preserving losses over recouping them through gambling.
LMU Munich has awarded two Alexander von Humboldt professorships to international scientists Ulrike Gaul and Georgi Dvali, both experts in systems biology and cosmological particle research. The awards bring significant funding and attract top talent to the institution.
Researchers at NIST and Max Planck Institute plan to measure the Rydberg constant with unprecedented accuracy by boosting an electron to a high-flying orbit. This could reveal anomalies in quantum electrodynamics and improve element identification in stars, environmental pollutants, and more.
The Virginia Tech group is exploring the possibility of an extra dimension, curled up like the universe at the Big Bang. They plan to detect small primordial black holes that produce radio pulses using a new Transient Array radio telescope.
Researchers from University of Wisconsin-Madison and UC-Berkeley say that exotic particles may distinguish between possible shapes of extra dimensions predicted by string theory. The shape of the dimensions determines the properties and behavior of our four-dimensional universe.
David Mumford is recognized for his contributions to algebraic surfaces, geometric invariant theory, and the modern algebraic theory of moduli of curves and theta functions. His work has fundamentally changed algebraic geometry, laying the foundations for string theory in physics.
Scientists propose using ancient light absorbed by neutral hydrogen atoms to test string theory predictions. A gigantic array of radio telescopes would be needed to make the measurements.
Research suggests that dilaton effects could reduce the abundance of stable dark matter particles like neutralinos by a factor of ten. This finding has implications for supersymmetric searches in colliders and challenges standard cosmology theories.
Researchers found new mathematical evidence that string theory's predictions mesh closely with gauge theory, which underlies the interactions among quarks and gluons. This breakthrough could open up uses for string theory in describing atomic nuclei and everyday matter.
According to physicist Andrei Linde, recent developments in cosmology have changed our understanding of the structure and fate of the universe. Inflationary theory suggests that our universe could emerge from as little as a milligram of matter or even nothing, with quantum fluctuations creating galaxies along the way.
Physicist Burton Richter says new experiments will answer some questions but raise others about the universe's composition and expansion. He emphasizes the need for prioritizing crucial research to advance our understanding of dark matter, dark energy, and the Standard Model.
Scientists conducted precision comparisons among NIST's cesium fountain and mercury ion clocks, narrowing the range for a possible change in the fine-structure constant. These experiments aim to develop a more complete understanding of the history of the universe and test recent theories.
Physicist S. James Gates, Jr. has been recognized with the 2006 AAAS Public Understanding of Science and Technology Award for his efforts in making complex scientific concepts accessible to diverse audiences. Through various media platforms and educational initiatives, Gates has promoted STEM education, particularly among underrepresen...
Researchers at University of Wisconsin-Madison devise approach to 'see' extra dimensions by deciphering cosmic energy released in the universe's violent birth. The method provides evidence for testing string theory's existence and predicts specific shapes for the six hidden dimensions.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University and other institutions have developed a test of string theory, which involves measuring the scattering of high-energy particles in particle collisions. The test could eventually be performed at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) if the predicted predictions are not found.
Cosmic superstrings, predicted by string theory, are thought to be ultra-thin tubes of energy left from the universe's beginning. They can emit gravitational waves as they decay, adding a new soundtrack to astronomy's silent movie.
Stanford University has a total of 230 scholars in the academy. The newly elected members include Lawrence D. Bobo, Savas Dimopoulos, Margaret T. Fuller, Larry Kramer, and Lawrence Lessig. They are recognized for their contributions to various fields such as sociology, physics, biology and law.
A new method to rank scientific output has been proposed by a UCSD physicist, using the h-index to estimate a scientist's cumulative research contributions. The h-index is derived from citation counts and provides a single number that can be used to compare relative ranks within a discipline.
Physicists Andreas Karch and Lisa Randall propose that the relaxation principle in the early universe led to the formation of three- or seven-dimensional realities. These dimensions could be hidden from our perception, with our three-dimensional reality being just one of them.
New research from Rice University suggests the immune system's mild inefficiency may lead to autoimmune diseases, as its mechanisms for developing antibodies could also attack healthy cells. Ancient neutrinos created in the early universe may provide evidence for or against string theory and quantum loop gravity.
Duke physicists Berndt Mueller and Steffen A. Bass contribute to the search for a superhot quark-gluon plasma by analyzing experimental data from RHIC collisions. Their work provides evidence that the matter created in these collisions exhibits unique properties, challenging current physical theory.
Researchers at RHIC have discovered a new state of matter that exhibits nearly perfect fluid motion, contradicting early theoretical predictions. The hot matter formed in collisions of gold ions moves collectively in response to pressure variations, displaying a high degree of coordination among particles.
Rob Myers and Eric Poisson, two prominent physicists, have been awarded the CAP prize for their outstanding contributions to gravitational physics and string theory. Their work has significantly impacted foundational questions in string theory and gravitational waves, with implications for future research.
Researchers have found that black holes in 10 dimensions behave like fluids with near-zero viscosity, which is lower than water. This discovery could revolutionize our understanding of the behavior of matter and energy at extreme temperatures and densities.
Cosmologists propose that the universe's acceleration can be explained by inflationary theory, which generates cosmic ripples that drive expansion. This solution relies on Einstein's General Relativity and doesn't require new ingredients like dark energy.
Dark energy drives universe expansion, but its effects are complex and not fully understood. String theory offers a potential explanation, suggesting the existence of 'pocket universes' with distinct physical laws.
Dvali suggests extra dimensions allow gravitons to escape, altering space-time continuum and accelerating cosmic expansion. This theory predicts observable deviations at shorter distances than predicted by modified gravity hypothesis.
Physicists James D. Bjorken and Curtis G. Callan have been awarded the 2004 Dirac Medal by the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) for their significant contributions to theoretical physics and mathematics, including the development of deep inelastic scattering techniques that shed light on strong interactio...
Theoretical physicists propose a new test to verify string theory, which could provide support within two years. The test involves detecting the gravitational signature of leftover cosmic strings from the universe's creation.
Recent study by Yale University's Richard Easther and colleagues proposes that the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) may contain evidence for string theory. The CMB is thought to hold a fossilized record of the first moments of time, with subtle fluctuations potentially revealing signs of string theory.
Physicists at Ohio State University propose a solution to the long-standing information paradox by suggesting that black holes are made up of giant tangles of strings that preserve the information of particles that enter them. This theory resolves the paradox and provides new insights into the nature of black holes.
The WMAP experiment's results confirm many aspects of inflationary theory while ruling out others. The latest trends in cosmology suggest a new era of precision cosmology, where speculation about the universe is confirmed or rejected by solid experimental data.
String theory predicts the existence of moduli forces with strengths comparable to gravity, which could be detected on length scales of one-tenth of a millimeter. Researchers used an experiment to search for these forces and found that they are unlikely to exist at distances smaller than previously thought.
Researchers have made breakthroughs in open string theory, revealing connections between five distinct versions and investigating the properties of four-dimensional D-branes. Mathematical research has demonstrated that strings can only move along specific lines or surfaces in group spaces, paving the way for further study.
Physicists Daniel Kabat and Gilad Lifschytz propose tachyons as the solution to explain how black holes absorb particles without violating M-theory. Tachyons, with imaginary mass, could provide a mechanism for energy absorption, making it possible for black holes to devour matter.
Riemann's concept of curved space was pivotal in Einstein's explanation of gravitation, while his abstract surfaces inspired modern math and physics. His ideas continue to influence contemporary theories like string theory.
String theory proposes that elementary particles are vibrating strings in 10 dimensions, requiring a reconciliation of quantum mechanics and general relativity. Mathematicians have found Calabi-Yau manifolds that describe simple equations, which resemble special black holes in our four-dimensional world.