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Introduction

While string theory certainly shows legitimate promise in its viability and being the ultimate unification theory, there are, as always, roadblocks challenge the movement for categorical support of string theory. Despite the numerous criticisms of string theory, the real problems lie inherently in the heart of string theory itself. Is string theory simply a philosophy or is it a scientific theory?

Physics or Philosophy

Opponents claim that string theory is just a philosophy or theoretical belief that lacks justifiable proof through experimentation.

The primarily problem associated with string theory is that it cannot be experimentally tested due to the minute scale at which strings interact and are visible (approximately 10 –35 meters or Planck length). Although scientists have tried to indirectly test for strings by examining any variations in gravitational waves (these have not been detected previously) or the Big Bang’s afterglow, they have never successfully viewed or determined the existence of strings. This fact becomes even graver when scientists say that strings will never be visible. Expectedly, this monumental problem with string theory has raised questions: the foremost being whether string theory can even be considered a scientific theory. Opponents claim that string theory is just a philosophy or theoretical belief that lacks justifiable proof through experimentation. As mentioned earlier, the good news for believers of string theory is that recent experiments and studies aim to detect strings indirectly and thus prove the accuracy of string theory.

Perturbation

How can we rely on a theory that is currently mathematically imprecise?

The primarily problem associated with string theory is that it cannot be experimentally tested due to the minute scale at which strings interact and are visible (approximately 10 –35 meters or Planck length). Although scientists have tried to indirectly test for strings by examining any variations in gravitational waves (these have not been detected previously) or the Big Bang’s afterglow, they have never successfully viewed or determined the existence of strings. This fact becomes even graver when scientists say that strings will never be visible. Expectedly, this monumental problem with string theory has raised questions: the foremost being whether string theory can even be considered a scientific theory. Opponents claim that string theory is just a philosophy or theoretical belief that lacks justifiable proof through experimentation. As mentioned earlier, the good news for believers of string theory is that recent experiments and studies aim to detect strings indirectly and thus prove the accuracy o of string theory.

11 Dimensions?

Nobody, not even its creator Professor Edward Witten really knows about what is going on in these eleven dimensions.

M-theory, which attempts to unify the five separate supersymmetry theories by using dualities, serves as a source of intrigue and skepticism. M-theory requires eleven dimensions (ten space dimensions and one time dimension) and incorporates numerous novel structures, such as two-dimensional membranes. Unfortunately, nobody is certain about the exact features of this eleven-dimensional space. Nobody, not even its creator Professor Edward Witten really knows about what is going on in these eleven dimensions. Are there only strings, only membranes, a combination of both, or even more structures involved? This nebulous understanding, say many physicists, is a result of the mathematical incapability to express this whole new world. Some physicists claim that newly developed mathematics in the future will provide the answers. Only time will tell.

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