What is status of String Theory now?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the current status of string theory, exploring recent developments, theoretical implications, and the lack of experimental evidence. Participants express varying perspectives on the progress and validity of string theory as a framework in theoretical physics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants inquire about new developments in string theory, suggesting ongoing research efforts.
  • Others assert that there is still no evidence supporting the validity of string theory, emphasizing its mathematical consistency but questioning its empirical applicability.
  • One participant mentions 'M' theory as an attempt to unify various string models, yet expresses skepticism about its practical significance without experimental validation.
  • A participant references lectures by Mark Van Raamsdonk that discuss the AdS/CFT correspondence and its implications for understanding quantum gravity and spacetime, indicating some progress in theoretical frameworks.
  • Another participant raises a question about the relationship between the concept of a final theory in physics and Gödel's incompleteness theorem, referencing Stephen Hawking's skepticism regarding the existence of a final theory.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a mix of views, with some highlighting ongoing theoretical advancements while others emphasize the lack of empirical evidence and the unresolved status of string theory. No consensus is reached regarding the overall progress or validity of string theory.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the absence of experimental tests for string theory, which are noted as requiring extreme conditions that are currently unattainable. The discussion reflects a range of assumptions about the implications of theoretical developments.

Viet Tu
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Are there anything new in String theory?
 
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Viet Tu said:
Are there anything new in String theory?

Welcome to the PF. :smile:

Yes. Scientists are hard at work on String Theory.

http://www.catster.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/cat_with_string.jpg
cat_with_string.jpg

For more information, do a Google search and post links in the General Physics forum with your specific questions about String Theory. Or, post in the General Discussion forum in the Kitten thread, whichever is most applicable... :smile:

<< Mentor Note -- thread moved to the general technical physics forums >>
 
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Thank you.
Apologize for my mistake.
 
May we all look at the universe the same way a kitten looks at a ball of string.
With wide eyed wonder, amazement, curiosity and, just a touch of psychotic playfulness.
 
There still is not any evidence that what is proposed by string theory is true, so no change there.
String theory though is a actualy a set of diffrrent theories, which make very good sense mathematically, but it ends there.
There is 'M' theory which attempts to unite the various string models, which is nice, but still, so what?, unless something is predicated and found to be true.
 
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rootone said:
There still is not any evidence that what is proposed by string theory is true, so no change there.
String theory though is a actualy a set of diffrrent theories, which make very good sense mathematically, but it ends there.
There is 'M' theory which attempts to unite the various string models, which is nice, but still, so what?, unless something is predicated and found to be true.
No experiments have been done yet, to test it, because they would require such extreme and unattainable (as yet) conditions.
 
Yes, there is progress in string theory. Many of the most interesting developments are summarized in these lectures by Mark Van Raamsdonk.

https://arxiv.org/abs/1609.00026
Lectures on Gravity and Entanglement
Mark Van Raamsdonk
(Submitted on 31 Aug 2016)
The AdS/CFT correspondence provides quantum theories of gravity in which spacetime and gravitational physics emerge from ordinary non-gravitational quantum systems with many degrees of freedom. Recent work in this context has uncovered fascinating connections between quantum information theory and quantum gravity, suggesting that spacetime geometry is directly related to the entanglement structure of the underlying quantum mechanical degrees of freedom and that aspects of spacetime dynamics (gravitation) can be understood from basic quantum information theoretic constraints. In these notes, we provide an elementary introduction to these developments, suitable for readers with some background in general relativity and quantum field theory. The notes are based on lectures given at the CERN Spring School 2014, the Jerusalem Winter School 2014, the TASI Summer School 2015, and the Trieste Spring School 2015.
 
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Is there any relationship between final theory and incompleteness theorem, according to Godel’s theorem. Even Stephen Hawing once said that there may not a final theory to discover after all?
 

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