By: Dhruv Soni
In modern theoretical physics, scientists are mainly concerned with combining mathematical and experimental approaches to physics in order to understand the principles behind phenomena in the real world. Whether it be on the small scale of atoms, subatomic particles and quarks, or on the massive scale of planets, stars, and black holes, physical theories are incredibly important to scientific achievement, and are being developed and advanced in the modern day in order to best explain events in our universe consistently.
This is where the idea of a Theory of Everything (TOE) comes in. The goal of them is exactly what it sounds like: a physical framework that explains the entire universe on every level. The two most accepted modern physical theories - General Relativity (from Einstein) and Quantum Mechanics - both function incredibly well on two opposing scales, but that's exactly the problem. We don't have a real answer, a concrete theory, that works on EVERY level to accurately predict and describe what is happening. It would be like having one singular concept that could be applied to the tiniest of particles or the largest superclusters and be accurate in their behavior.
The best candidate for a TOE so far is String Theory, which overall suggests that all particles are really just the result of incredibly small vibrating strings. The idea has been studied tremendously in the past few decades, but is ultimately unproven.
If a true TOE was ever discovered, it would revolutionize science and every scientific field, allowing us to finally answer so many unanswered questions about the reality we live in. Hopefully, we will live to see something promising develop in the world of TOEs, even if finding one seems unlikely.
Comments