Superstrings : A Theory of Everything? (Canto)

Rating:
Summary: High standard radio program.
Review: BBC program consisting of interviews with well known physicists about 'superstrings'.
This book contains a very good introduction of the quantum theory and of supersymmetry/superstrings for the layman.
Most of the interviewed (John Schwarz, Edward Witten, Michael Green, David Gross, John Ellis, Abdus Salam, Steven Weinberg) agree with the theory of superstrings, mainly because it is the only theory that could solve certain mathematical problems (infinities), without violating the laws of quantum mechanics and gravity.
Two disagree (Sheldon Glashow and Richard Feynman), mainly because the existence of strings in nature can not be tested.
For the moment (see among others, 'The elegant universe' by Brian Greene) it seems that superstrings is the only way to get forward in the search for a 'theory' of everything.
Not to be missed. Congratulations to the BBC.

Rating:
Summary: Unsatisfying
Review: Following the introduction, each chapter is an interview with a string-theory advocate (and non-advocate: Feynman) recorded for the BBC in 1987. If Davies actually did the interviews, he plays the role of interested layman well.

But there is a limit to what you can do in words to convey mathematical ideas. A book on physics with no mathematics at all CAN work if the subject treatment is broad rather than deep, and good metaphors employed. By contrast, the focus of this book is narrow and shallow. There is no mathematics, and not too many metaphors to help us bridge the gap. Plus, on occasion, the interviewees sound pompous and patronizing. A major part of the problem seems to be that the interviews are mostly statements of personal position on the nature of strings, and personal role in their development, rather than an attempt to educate. Anyhow, I was left hungry and disappointed that I had not learned more.

I recommend the introduction (70-pages - presumably by Davies). It is a very well written and educative layman's survey of modern physics leading up to strings. The book may be worth buying just for that.

Rating:
Summary: A step beyond "The Elegant Universe"
Review: This book is the collection of interviews with famous individuals on this subject i.e String Theory. Narrative of the BBC show, all usual suspects are here and their responses on same or similar questions on the origins of the Spring Theory, status of the theoty and future of the theory. There is no mathematics, it is interview for general public. Although there are concepts or rather english words floating around and if you do not know what it is you do not understand the pohysics behind it but for layman this book gives a good insight into what is going on in new physics and who has what opinion. Suspects include geen, Feynman, Witten, Weinberg, Glashow, Salam and some more. Interesting reading.

Rating:
Summary: An interesting observation about "dimensions"
Review: This book's suggestion (briefly mentioned) that each "force" can also be considered a "dimension" is possibly the key to alien/UFO abductions -- aliens are using the different forces (electromagnetism, gravity etc) as routes for their travel throughout the universe. That explains how they have conquered the distance/time problems that we humans see with space travel, since we are still fundamentally functioning in the same four dimensions (length, width, depth and time) in which we have traditionally operated. Additional dimensions obviously don't have the same constraints as the original four, allowing relatively easy travel across what we would call billions of miles of space. I tried to convey this information to Whitley Strieber, author of "Communion," about alien abduction, but was unsuccessful. Alien encounters are not dreams or hallucinations. They are real, and the aliens are using Superstring theory for their travels.

Rating:
Summary: Good introdution, a bit dated.
Review: This little book is a must for those interested in superstring theory. Those who have read books like "the elegant universe" should complement with this one. It gives a historical prespective, but unfortunately is a bit dated, given that it was originally published in 1988. String theory moves real fast, and a lot of things viewed as problems in the book are now somewhat clarified.

The book starts with the best crash-course I have read of modern physics. In just 60 pages, you are introduced to supersymmetry, relativity theory, quantum mechanics, particle physics, superstrings, and other conceptual issues. The main body of the book however, involves interviews with various physicists concerning superstrung theory. Green, Gross, Witten, Feynmann, Salam, weinberg among others all give their points of view of this putative "theory of everything". They talk about the structure of the theory, its limitations in experimentation, its main obstacles, and their personal views of what lies in the future for superstrings.

Some main issues come up regularily, like the multidimensional aspect of the theory, the fact that there are various diferent superstring theories, and issues on topology. Unfortunately this was before some very interesting results that clarify some of these issues. For example, Calibi-Yau spaces were not in the spotlight, as they currently are. Also, all of this is pre "M-theory". That is, the 5 kinds of theory described (E8*E8 for example) are now linked through "M-theory", so there is no real problem of unification anymore (aty least one could see how it comes together, but this issues are still controversial).Also, current theories sometimes use 11 dimensions, whereas in the book 10 dimensions seemed to be the standard. Holographic principles could also enlighten some of the discussed problems in the book.

Another great aspect of the book is that it includes internal critics as well. Richard Feynmann for exaple, does not feel superstring is going to save physics, and does not share the same kind of enthusiasm as say, Edward Witten. The main points are the fact that superstring theory is so far from being directly testable (PLank lenght experiments would require 10 light year long particle accelerators!), and other philosophical issues. Of course, there is circunstancial evidence, but some see that superstring theory resembles pseudo-science in not being directly testable. This is certainly an issue.

Wether theory of everything or not, superstring theory is here to stay, so one might as well read this book to get a larger scale view of the field, before reading more modern or popular texts.