The Search for Extra Dimensions Continues

Particle physicists, cosmologists, and string theorists gathered at the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s annual meeting to discuss the possibility of extra dimensions to help explain several current theories or disprove old ones, such as the Standard Model.

The Standard Model is used to describe the most elementary particles and the forces that hold them together. According to experimentalists, however, there seems to be more particles and forces than are necessary. Extra dimensions may be able to help explain these data inconsistencies.

According to theorists, string theory requires that space-time contain up to seven extra dimensions if it is to include gravity. Extra dimensions could also help solve two cosmological mysteries: What were the initial conditions of the universe and what is the mysterious dark energy that is accelerating the expansion of the universe?

Although scientists do not have direct evidence of extra dimensions at this time, experimentalists and theorists alike feel confident that they are only a few years away from a scientific revolution.

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