May 26, 2003

• Mental Health Month, Day 26:

  
  

  Many Dimensions

  
  

  John Baez on why bosonic string theory is said to require 26 dimensions –

  
  

  “By now, if you’re a rigorous sort of pure mathematician, you must be suffering from grave doubts about the sanity of this whole procedure.”

  
  

  Doubts?  Let us just say I prefer

  
  

  G-string theory:

  
  

  “The G-string is unique in that it combines the properties of all known string theories. It has 26-dimensional modes propagating to the left, 10-dimensional modes propagating to the right, and 2-dimensional modes just sitting around wondering what the hell is going on.”
  
  

  • 3:14 am
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