Introduction to M-theory: Difference between revisions

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{{More citations needed|date= December 2018}}

{{String theory|cTopic= Theory}}

In non-technical terms, [[M-theory]] presents an idea about the basic substance of the [[universe]]. As of 2022, science has produced no experimental evidence to support the conclusion that M-theory is a description of the real world. Although a complete mathematical formulation of M-theory is not known, the general approach is the leading contender for a universal "[[Theory of Everything]]" that unifies gravity with other forces such as [[electromagnetism]]. M-theory aims to unify [[introduction to quantum mechanics|quantum mechanics]] with [[introduction to general relativity|general relativity]]'s gravitational force in a mathematically consistent way. In comparison, other theories such as [[loop quantum gravity]] are considered by [[Physicist|physicistsphysicist]]s and researchers/students to be less elegant, because they posit [[gravity]] to be completely different from forces such as the electromagnetic force.<ref name=atlantic>{{cite news|last1= Wolchover|first1= Natalie|title= The Best Explanation for Everything in the Universe|url= https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/12/string-theory-everything/548774/|access-date= 7 February 2018|work= The Atlantic|date= December 2017|archive-date= 15 November 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201115210213/https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/12/string-theory-everything/548774/|url-status= live}}</ref><ref name=quanta>{{cite news|title= Physicists and Philosophers Debate the Boundaries of Science {{!}} Quanta Magazine|url= https://www.quantamagazine.org/physicists-and-philosophers-debate-the-boundaries-of-science-20151216|access-date= 7 February 2018|work= Quanta Magazine|date= 16 December 2015|archive-date= 15 November 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201115210250/https://www.quantamagazine.org/physicists-and-philosophers-debate-the-boundaries-of-science-20151216|url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news

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Nevertheless, some [[cosmologists]] are drawn to M-theory because of its mathematical [[elegance]] and relative simplicity, triggering the hope that the simplicity is a reason why it may describe our world.

One feature of M-theory that has drawn great interest is that it naturally predicts the existence of the [[graviton]], a [[Spin (particle physics)|spin-2]] particle hypothesized to mediate the gravitational force. Furthermore, M-theory naturally predicts a phenomenon that resembles [[black hole evaporation]]. Competing unification theories such as [[asymptotically safe gravity]], [[An Exceptionally Simple Theory of Everything|E8 theory]], [[noncommutative geometry]], and [[causal fermion systems]] have not demonstrated any level of mathematical consistency. Another approach to quantum gravity is [[loop quantum gravity]], a non-unifying theory; many physicists consider loop quantum gravity to be less elegant than M-theory because it posits gravity to be completely different from the other fundamental forces.<ref name=atlantic/><ref name=quanta/>

==See also==