The Elegant Universe

by Brian Greene

Just as the strings on a violin or on a piano have resonant frequencies at which they prefer to vibrate—patterns that our ears sense as various musical notes and their higher harmonics—the same holds true for the loops of string theory. But we will see that, rather than producing musical notes, each of the preferred patterns of vibration of a string in string theory appears as a particle whose mass and force charges are determined by the string's oscillatory pattern. The

The ultimate theory would provide an unshakable pillar of coherence forever assuring us that the universe is a comprehensible place.

Quite idealistic. Until a newer, even more sound and sensical theory comes along. Or have we learned nothing from history? Must be especially cautious when thinking we have found "the end."

Time elapses more slowly for an individual in motion than it does for a stationary individual.