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Introduction

Because researchers are continually pushing forward the boundary of our understanding, this section allows you to investigate the most recent experiments being done and new information being collected. These events pertain new findings on string theory or any of the current interpretations within the scientific community.

Signs Pointing to String Theory in Big Bang Aftermath

Although the chances of detecting strings is minimal, the simple hope of verifying string theory experimentally is truly exciting.

Studies on the Big Bang, which was the colossal explosion approximately 13.7 billion years ago that created the universe, indicate that data collected on the aftermath of the Big Bang may provide a way to test string theory. String theory has been thought to not be testable (due to the minute scale on which it is based) and has raised concern amid the scientific community, which has questioned whether string theory is a scientific theory or simply a philosophy. Richard Easter, the assistant professor of physics at Yale University, states that “Big Bang, the most powerful event in the history of the Universe, we see the energies needed to reveal the subtle signs of string theory.” The Big Bang afterglow still envelops the entire universe and holds clues to the first moments of time. Physicists plan to detect strings by enlarging and observing pictures that illustrate this Big Bang afterglow and determining whether any disturbances or alterations in the afterglow are due to string theory. Although the chances of detecting strings is minimal, the simple hope of verifying string theory experimentally is truly exciting.

The "Pentaquark"

Quarks have never been found alone due to the immense strength of the strong force...

The Penta- what? Yes, the pentaquark, or 5-quark formation, has been discovered.. Quarks, which were formerly only known to come in two and three quark combinations, are the fundamental components of elementary particles. In fact, quarks have never been found alone due to the immense strength of the strong force that is actually magnified so greatly that quarks combine with other quarks upon the moment that they are even moved slightly. After thirty years of speculation and the first signs coming in 2002, Takashi Nakano of Osaka University with support from Jefferson Lab in Virginia announced the discovery of this novel structure. This new discovery greatly widens our field of perception and clearly opens door to future breakthroughs and investigations.

Fuzzballs

Quantum physics states that information can never be eliminated.

Using mathematics and string theory, physicists at Ohio State University have proposed that black holes aren’t simply elegant juggernauts, but instead are fuzzballs. This new view of black holes comes from the belief that black holes contain a myriad of strings that contribute to the fuzzy structure. Black holes have long been a source of awe and amazement due to their supposed capabilities. British physicist Stephen Hawking’s work with black holes created the so-called "information paradox." This paradox exists because Hawking said that all information was completely lost once a black hole evaporates (after continually emitting the eponymous "Hawking radiation"); however, quantum physics states that information can never be eliminated, as in Hawking’s case. Surprisingly, after thirty years, Hawking has recanted his previous findings and now believes that black holes do permit information to leave. Mr. Samir Mathur and his colleagues at Ohio State University say that a black hole is comprised of a massive grouping of strings that stretch to provide the size and power of a black hole. Also, these physicists have noted that black holes can now be traced back to their origins, thus illustrating that information can exist.

A Way of Testing the String Theory

Although string theory is quite difficult to prove as result of the miniscule size of the strings themselves, researchers are now trying to determine the existence of strings by examining the gravitational imprints that have resulted from the birth of the universe and current gravitational waves. These physicists are relying on the data collected by their three-step experiment with stages entitled LIGO I, LIGO II, and the satellite LISA. Despite the fact that gravitational waves have never been collected or detected before, physicists are hoping that this extensive experiment will pick up gravitational waves. They believe that cosmic strings “crack” and then release gravitational waves, which can potentially be detected by LIGO. There are many other facets to this detailed experiment, and physicists are hoping to find clues that will help convince the scientific community and the public about the validity of string theory.

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