Clarification on key concepts of string theory

[Teichii492]

I've been tasked with giving a presentation on any subject i like to my undergraduate physics class.
Inspired by a recent lecture i attended by David Tong i have chosen to do a quick (10 minute) overview of the current state of theories beyond the standard model, obviously aimed at being understandable by the group.

I was looking for clarification of something that Dr. Tong said (this is not an exact quote):

"A very peculiar aspect of string theory is that there are aspects of the mathematics involved that can lead you to all the equations of relativity and mechanics"

I was under the impression that he meant that they could come from the same algebraic root, unless this is similar to the fluid dynamics- gravitation correspondance where the equations of relativity with a negative cosmological constant reduce to the relativistic generalisations of the navier-stokes equations.(source)

I'll insert a caveat here in that my knowledge of the mathematics involved is limited at the moment and that i could be mistaken about the fluidics-gravitation correspondance and its significance and that Dr. Tongs lecture was obviously aimed at the semi-layman so his quote may not be entirely representative of what actually happens mathematically.

 

[jedishrfu]

Maybe he was referring to the recent discussions on Monstrous Moonshine:

https://www.quantamagazine.org/20150312-mathematicians-chase-moonshines-shadow/

and on wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monstrous_moonshine

and throwing this is in too:

https://www.quantamagazine.org/20150218-string-theory-only-game-in-town/