String theory describes, matter and energy as being composed of tiny, wiggling strands of energy that look like strings. And the pitch of a string's vibration determines the nature of its effect.
~ Roy H. Williams.
(I, II ):
Matter is composed of atoms...
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(III):
Atoms are made of protons, neutrons & electrons...
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(IV):
Electrons can't be divided further, but protons & neutrons are each made of three even tinier particles called quarks...
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(V):
Now it appears that quarks and electrons may not be particles at all but multi-dimensional entities called "branes," some of which manifest themselves as tiny loops of "string."
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Nature rarely bestows gifts on scientists, however, without exacting a price, and the price, in this case, takes the form of additional complications.
Among other things, string theory requires the existence of up to seven dimensions in addition to the by now familiar four (height, width, length and time). It also requires the existence of an entirely new class of subatomic particles or "sparticles."
Moreover, there isn't just one string theory but five. Although scientists could rule out none of them, it seemed impossible that all of them could be right. (References: Time, December 31, 1999).