mattd

I totally agree. I've always thought this whole thing shared too many qualities with I.D.

Yeah, this is in the wrong forum. I guess it depends on the point of view of whomever you're talking about.

true

I don't think anyone has ever seen a string, but the idea of something 1D existing is fascinating (hell, I'd settle for 2D). Of course, I'm talking about things that don't have 4D qualities like you or I are accustomed to. I guess what I meant by my statement above was concerning the ideas that flow through to the general public. I go by book stores or magazine racks, and in all the science sections, it seems superstrings dominates the subject matter. It just appears there are a lot of people who are working on this. I would like to see alternative viewpoints.

as i've read more and more about the whole thing, the less i like it. i don't like how it's pushed as a theory of everything and how so much of it is untestable, yet so many physicists seem to waste a lot of their time on it. it kinda reminds me of intelligent design in that aspect.

i guess my confusion is centered around how a 1D object could exist in a 3D universe (on a spatial level). but, i've got to keep in mind that space at that microscopic level is theoretically "foamy", so a lot of strange things are supposed to be happening.

actually, it's a line. a zero dimensional object is a point.

thanks for answering that. i'm still confused on the whole idea of them being one dimensional. i wish there was more written about all this.

when talking about dimensions higher than time, there are theories that these non visible dimensions are ultra small (sub atomic) and tightly coiled up. keep in mind these are only theories. the idea is that the components of all subatomic particles interact in some form with each of these dimensions, just as everything we see has 4 dimensional qualities. we never encounter any form of matter that has less.

i keep reading that strings are 1 dimensional. if all they have is length, then wouldn't they also exist in time, making them 2 dimensional at least? they vibrate, so wouldn't that infer they exist in time, or am i completely missing something?

this forum rules

i am really confused about the whole notion that the dimensions above the fourth are "really small". i find it a very third dimensional way of looking at it. plus, the idea that the fourth dimension of time isn't a spatial dimension depends upon how you look at it. we only perceive time the way it is because our consciousness travels along it in one direction. cubes become hypercubes from one frame to another. it's just a different way of looking at things instead of how we are used to. is there any resources on the web concerning this topic? i've searched and found very little that explains this well.

okay, i see your point

I see your point about not getting worked up by all this, but I still see it as a theory. But it's a theory that needs to be tested in some form for it to have any validity, as with any theory.

This is all very confusing.

Are we not in the process of testing this theory (to the best of our abilities) with particle accelerators?

the vice president of indonesia said today that the death toll may be as high as 20,000 for his country alone. that would push the estimate up to 50 k. http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20041228/ap_on_re_as/quake_tidal_wave ^^^in that story somewhere. i also heard on npr that the quake actually disturbed the earth's rotation.

I consider the effects beneficial to my mind and spirit. It helps me meditate and helps me see our universe from a different and a more peaceful perspective.

The death toll from this continues to climb. Please, if you have some extra cash laying around, donate to the red cross. It's nearing year end for us amuricans, and it'll count as a tax deduction (if you itemize) for 2004.

Thanks nsx. I've found the link where I can buy the dvd of the show and the book. This is sweet.

brian greene was the host, correct? I thought the show was right on. It should be shown in schools.

i think maurijuana should be completely legalized and available anywhere without a presciption because: 1. it's not a bad drug 2. alcohol and tobacco are far worse for you in every aspect 3. it's fun 4. it's never killed anyone 5. the only reason it's against the law is to keep our prisons packed for the profit of a few dummies 6. the stuff you get from your drug dealer might be tainted with other crap, legalizing it would make it safer. 7. only nimrods think otherwise, and are brainwashed to be that way Yes, I smoke pot occasionally, and I don't give a damn if it's illegal or not.

Okay, I've caught the first installment, and it taught me a great deal about string theory and the like, but I've got one question. Regarding dimensions, I'm aware of the aspect of this, but if it is true other dimensions exist, why is it we haven't seen any objects that are zero, one, or two dimensions? Is it because all objects are multidimensional and we can only observe what our senses, which are geared for three, see ? It's a fascinating series, but I'm trying to wrap my feeble brain around some big concepts here, and would appreciate some help here.

I don't see it as discouraging growth. We have a real problem with misrepresentation in this country, with everyone focusing on looking good on paper. If growth happens, then society as a whole benefits. I say keep a low capital gains tax, a NST on certain purchases, and the elimination of ordinary income taxes. That way the wealthy still get hit on taxes, encourages people to save money through investment by buying and holding. We'd get rid of these scheisters who flip stocks around trying to make easy money while screwing over traditional investors.

I don't see it as discouraging growth. We have a real problem with misrepresentation in this country, with everyone focusing on looking good on paper. If growth happens, then society as a whole benefits. I say keep a low capital gains tax, a NST on certain purchases, and the elimination of ordinary income taxes. That way the wealthy still get hit on taxes, encourages people to save money through investment by buying and holding. We'd get rid of these scheisters who flip stocks around trying to make easy money while screwing over traditional investors.