One thing I’ve always found intriguing is the nature of the universe. When it comes down to it the universe as most of us understand it is made up of matter and energy, and hence we have developed the study of physics in order to explain the phenomenon we see around us.

Now if anyone recalls their high-school physics class, they may remember very simple equations involving gravity and acceleration, mass etc. This is obviously very elementary, and physicists have gone much further in trying to explain other aspects of our reality which fall outside of the scope of such basic physics.

Einstein’s theory of relativity, for example, has been a monumental work in understanding certain astronomical as well as some larger scale phenomenon we see on earth today. The studies of his theories has created interesting relationships between space, time, speed, gravity.

But again, the above has all been at the larger scale of physics, when you get to the ultra-microscopic level things change. Hence, a new science was born, “Quantum Physics”. Quantum physics is essentially the study of the properties of matter at the ultra-microscopic scale. One of the troubling aspects of Quantum physics is that things at the quantum level behave very, very strangely. At the quantum level, particles go through one another, or seemingly teleport from one place to the next without any effort.

Physicists are searching today for a theory that explains the observeable behavior at the quantum level as well as at the larger levels where relativistic physics apply. They are looking for a unified theory which can bring together the big and the small.

Superstring theory is one very exciting idea that may be used to bring together these two worlds, mathematically. One of the interesting aspects of this theory is the concept that all matter is made of a type of vibrating string. In the way that our vocal chords vibrate and make noise, these strings manifest different particles of nature by their vibration.

Although it is still just a theory it is quite beautiful in concept, that all matter (and hence, all of our bodies) are really, in a way, a chorus of melodies.

Recommended Reading: The Elegant Universe

Also: The Nova Special inspired by the book.