Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: lunar11 on 19/04/2013 22:12:15

Title: What are strings made of?
Post by: lunar11 on 19/04/2013 22:12:15
The standard model states that particles such as electrons are fundamental. They are not made of any other constituents. String theory states that the electrons are made of strings that vibrate. Has there been any thoughts about what strings could be made of, assuming the theory is acceptable?
Title: Re: What are strings made of?
Post by: Pmb on 19/04/2013 23:06:42
The standard model states that particles such as electrons are fundamental. They are not made of any other constituents. String theory states that the electrons are made of strings that vibrate. Has there been any thoughts about what strings could be made of, assuming the theory is acceptable?
I doubt it. The idea behind sting theory is that strings are the basic entities in nature beyond which there is nothing else. That means that one cannot think of a string as being made out of something else.

However, if that day ever came when we discovered that strings were made out of something else, which I'll call "Flooby dust" then the question that someone will askm us will then be "What is flooby dust made out of?" If we say that flooby dusk is made out of brihtsprites then someone will want to know what britespritges are. If we say that britesprites are made of heatherwings then somone will want to know what heatherwings are made out if we say that heatherwings are made of anglewebs then someone will want to know what angelwebs are made out of. If we say that angelwebs are made out of dustweekies then someone will want to know what dustweekies are made of. If someone wants to know what dustweekies are made of wel say that .... etc. etc. etc.... ad infinitum.
Title: Re: What are strings made of?
Post by: Ethos_ on 20/04/2013 03:41:38
The standard model states that particles such as electrons are fundamental. They are not made of any other constituents. String theory states that the electrons are made of strings that vibrate. Has there been any thoughts about what strings could be made of, assuming the theory is acceptable?
Extra dimensions rolled up so tight that we can't observe them directly. You are sure to get much better answers if you check out string theory on Wikipedia. As someone once said, "It's a really deep subject."
Title: Re: What are strings made of?
Post by: yor_on on 20/04/2013 18:44:27
Yep Pete. this is a lovely subject :)
But, what is wood made of?

wood?
Title: Re: What are strings made of?
Post by: Bored chemist on 21/04/2013 10:24:56
Predominantly cellulose and lignin. Those in turn are made from carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Those are made from electrons, neutrons  and protons.
Those are made from
(Cue someone singing "There's a hole in my bucket").
Title: Re: What are strings made of?
Post by: yor_on on 21/04/2013 13:08:01
:)

True.
Title: Re: What are strings made of?
Post by: lunar11 on 21/04/2013 20:40:52
Yep Pete. this is a lovely subject :)
But, what is wood made of?

wood?
Thats a good one.
Wood is actually made of carbon dioxide!
Title: Re: What are strings made of?
Post by: majorminor on 22/04/2013 00:57:43
Yep Pete. this is a lovely subject :)
But, what is wood made of?

wood?
Thats a good one.
Wood is actually made of carbon dioxide!
afraid you are both wrong, wood is obviously made from dustweekies.

I am amazed we can identify anything smaller than the wavelength of light .
Cliché but sometimes it seems we are limited only by our imagination in these sort of things -astronomy and quantum physics.
I will be checking out the string theory wiki thing to see how it all works, I imagine its gonna hurt my brain a little.
Title: Re: What are strings made of?
Post by: yor_on on 22/04/2013 11:47:41
A little?

You're a hardy sort..
Title: Re: What are strings made of?
Post by: majorminor on 22/04/2013 11:57:25
sorry, I meant its going to hurt my little brain. :)