- Art Gallery -

The Elegant Universe

The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory (ISBN 0-375-70811-1) is a book by Brian Greene published in 1999 which introduces string theory and provides a comprehensive though non-technical assessment of the theory and some of its shortcomings.

Beginning with a brief consideration of classical physics, which concentrates on the major conflicts in physics, Greene establishes a historical context for string theory as a necessary means of integrating the probabilistic world of the standard model of particle physics and the deterministic Newtonian physics of the macroscopic world. Greene discusses the essential problem facing modern physics: unification of Albert Einstein's theory of General Relativity and Quantum Mechanics. Greene suggests that string theory is the solution to these two conflicting approaches. Greene frequently uses analogies and thought experiments to provide a means for the layman to come to terms with the theory which has the potential to create a unified theory of physics.

The Elegant Universe was adapted for a three hour program in three parts for television broadcast in late 2003 on the PBS series NOVA.

The Elegant Universe was also interpreted by choreographer Karole Armitage, of Armitage Gone! Dance, in New York City. Her performance of the work-in-progress was produced as this podcastby Science & the City at the New York Academy of Sciences.

See also

* Quantum mechanics

* The Fabric of the Cosmos

* Warped Passages

* The Road to Reality

* Three Roads to Quantum Gravity

* The Trouble With Physics

Author Brian Greene
Subject(s) String theory
Genre(s) Non-fiction
Publisher Vintage
Publication date February 1999
Media type Print (Hardcover and Paperback)
Pages 464
ISBN ISBN 0-375-70811-1

Links

* SparkNotes: The Elegant Universe. Barnes & Noble (2004). Retrieved on 2006-06-04.

* WGBH Educational Foundation (2003). The Elegant Universe. PBS NOVA. Retrieved on 2006-06-04. A three-hour miniseries with Brian Greene.

* The Elegant Universe at the Internet Movie Database

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/"
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License

Scientificlib News