From: mk_thisisit
The concept of music is profoundly interwoven with the understanding of the universe, particularly within the framework of string theory. It’s suggested that the universe itself is a “symphony” [00:00:00].
String Theory: A Theory of Music
String theory, considered the leading candidate for a unified theory today despite being highly controversial and currently untestable [02:44:03], [02:54:02], [05:02:00], [07:13:00], is fundamentally described as “a theory of music” [05:16:04].
In this model:
- Subatomic particles, such as protons, neutrons, and neutrinos, are depicted as different “vibrations of a tiny string” [05:34:08]. Particles are essentially “notes created by a vibrating string” [05:41:04].
- Physics is defined as “the laws of harmony of such vibrating strings” [05:49:03].
- Chemistry is “the theory of interaction of strings” [05:55:03].
- The entire Universe is seen as “a symphony of strings” [06:05:07].
- “God’s plan,” a concept Albert Einstein pondered for the last 30 years of his life [06:12:08], [02:41:03], would be “cosmic music resounding in 11-dimensional hyperspace” [00:00:20], [06:21:00].
This musical analogy provides a unifying principle, explaining why there are so many different particles in nature; they are simply “different notes on the same string” [09:03:00], [33:12:00].
The Origin of the Analogy
The idea of string theory as a “theory of music” became a significant realization for some physicists, providing a human behavior pattern that allows for the explanation of the world [09:16:00]. Music, as a reflection of emotions, can create new worlds [09:25:00]. The understanding that string vibrations are a sufficiently complex paradigm to explain the entire Universe emerged from the search for a unifying language in physics, specifically a string field theory that could connect all the initial, random equations of string theory [10:14:00], [10:22:00].
Music and Dark Matter
The musical analogy extends to understanding dark matter. String theory is not limited to electrons, protons, and neutrons; it includes “notes higher than electrons and protons” [15:47:00]. These higher notes are hypothesized to be created by dark matter, which constitutes most of the Universe [15:54:00]. Dark matter is considered another “octave of the string” [16:13:00], implying an infinite number of octaves and thus potentially infinite forms of matter [16:23:00].
Influence and Inspiration
The musical framework of string theory has had a profound impact on mathematics. It has compelled mathematicians to “discover new forms of this field” [39:45:00]. This revolution in physics is seen as influencing mathematics, offering hope for a future unified theory of mathematics, similar to how string theory aims to unify physics [39:52:00].