As far as the human brain can easily understand it, we live in a four dimensional world.
In our everyday lives we register length, width, height, and as we’re contemplating
those three planes, we do so through the function of time.
But, there are growing theories to say that, actually, it doesn’t stop there.
That, really, there are many more dimensions beyond those that we know.
And, for one model at least, there could be (even should be) as many as eleven.
This is Unveiled, and today we’re answering the extraordinary question; what if humanity
lives in eleven dimensions?
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Do you ever feel the need to fundamentally question the physicality of your existence?
Do you ever find yourself doubting the very fabric of reality itself?
If so, then the extremes of theoretical science are certainly for you.
We know that science, across all fields, is busy pushing the boundaries of what’s possible
in a bid to make new discoveries and breakthroughs.
But, in the furthest and most outlandish corners of scientific thought, the need for answers
goes way, way deeper.
String theory is arguably the most well known attempt at the fabled theory of everything.
As with all other theory-of-everything candidates, it tries to reconcile general relativity with
quantum mechanics.
And, if it were found to do so… then we’d finally have one, unified framework to explain
all of life, the universe, and everything.
Broadly, string theory suggests that reality at its tiniest, most basic level is comprised
of one-dimensional, vibrating strings.
The nature of these strings’ vibrations is then what governs how we understand subatomic
particles, and the differences between them… which is then how we know how to build the
larger, wider world around us.
Crucially, supporters argue that even gravity can be described via this model, as the product
of vibrating strings.
And that’s despite gravity being the key stumbling block for most other theory-of-everything
claims.
One of the most mind bending aspects of string theory, however, is that it typically requires
at least ten dimensions to work - that is, nine spatial dimensions and one time.
This means that, for it to succeed, string theory needs length, width, and height, plus
six others, plus time.
Those ‘six others’ are very difficult to visualize, although the first of them are
usually presented by dividing reality up into membranes.
In this way, the universe itself is a membrane (or, brane) and its interactions with other
branes - within another, extra-dimensional space - is what really guides and shapes the
way things are.
Unsurprisingly, however, with such a vast and complex reimagining of the world to work
within, not every version of string theory is identical.
After it was first proposed, in general, in the 1960s, various models were developed in
a race to fill in the details.
So much so, that by the mid-1990s, there were five leading models, at least.
But then came M-Theory, which appeared to unify all string theories before it - although,
in doing so, it added yet another dimension onto the pile.
M-theory posits that there are actually eleven dimensions in total, ten spatial and one time.
The US mathematician and physicist, Edward Witten, is held to be the father of M-theory.
Its history traces back to one particular conference at the University of Southern California,
in 1995, where Witten delivered a then-paradigm shifting talk to his peers, in which he linked
all previous string theories into one.
The meaning as to the “M” in M-theory is somewhat unclear, although Witten himself
is said to have suggested either magic, mystery or membrane for the unknown initial.
In practical terms, membrane perhaps makes the most sense, again given how the theory
relies on the manipulation of membranes to shape existence.
But, if there is room for romance in the realms of theoretical science, then perhaps magic
is closer to the point.
Because, to the everyday mind that isn’t constantly involved in considering the fundamental
nature of the universe, that’s arguably what M-Theory amounts to.
Magic.
To even begin to grasp it, you must look beyond everything you’ve ever known.
Everything that currently surrounds you (including your body itself) no longer has just length,
width, and height… but, instead, it is fashioned into existence through the multi-faceted braneworld
prism that - so the theory goes - is actually all around us.
Indeed, that prism IS what we are!
It may, then, feel like we walk on the ground in a 3D landscape, but actually it’s more
like we’re floating in a 5D vat, across a 7D plane, with a 9D perspective, and so
on.
Given the standard string theories that preceded M-theory, arguably one way of viewing it is
as though we (and everything else) are held together (and in place) like puppets on the
stage, driven and directed by unseen forces that are wholly beyond our control.
Yes, we still see only our 3D surroundings, but there’s so much more that we don’t
see, holding it all altogether, as though backstage.
Importantly, at present, M-theory isn’t a proven concept, and for many leading scientists
it isn’t physically credible.
For those against, while we know that our theories on general relativity and quantum
mechanics remain incomplete, string and M-theory still isn’t the answer.
Certainly one difficulty with string theory (and M) is that it’s very hard to reliably
test, from our lowly 3D-plus-time position.
But, what do you think?
Can you picture reality as nothing more than a massive bunch of 1D strings, vibrating themselves
into life and variety?
Or is the idea simply more fantasy than fact?
Let us know in the comments!
But finally, and nevertheless, what if M-theory is correct, and therefore humanity does live
in eleven dimensions?
What then?
On the face of it, of course, not a great deal would change.
If those eleven dimensions have always been there, and it’s just that we’re only now
beginning to understand that… then clearly the universe has always been dependent on
that framework, and would therefore continue to be.
Physically speaking, nothing would happen except everything would carry on as it always
has done.
On a personal, human level, though, the revelation would be huge.
For one, it would confirm that there are other universes out there - that there have always
been other realities alongside our own - with them most easily envisioned as existing on
(or along) similar membranes to the one we apparently occupy.
But, it’s not as though the confirmation of M-theory would suddenly allow us to access
them.
We’d still be a long way away from that, with it perhaps being an impossible feat.
Consider how tricky an issue the relatively simple concept of time remains for us today.
We know time is there and important, and to some degree we can describe and manipulate
it… but, still, time controls us far more than we control it.
Uncover a fifth, sixth, seventh dimension, and more, and that knowledge on its own would,
similarly, not count for much.
We would still be wholly at the mercy of whatever those extra dimensions dictated.
And yet, as M-theory brings the multiverse into view, it does also open up the possibility
of higher dimensional beings.
Beings that do have a full grasp of time… and that can physically view the world in
more than length, width, and height.
Those creatures would then be so far removed from us that we would probably fail to recognise
them.
To some degree, this would be Carl Sagan’s famous Flatland demonstration (to explain
time itself) only with seven or more further chapters.
Considering all those extra dimensions, too, could it mean a kind of hierarchy of physical
being?
With some making it to 6D, some to 8D, 10D, and so on.
At every level, presumably, there’d be an unknowable level above.
Unless, of course, you’re a being at the very top - in M-theory, at the eleventh dimension
- in which case there’d be no further for you to go.
If there is a God, then maybe this is it.
Although, would that being also be aware that there was nothing else above them?
If yes, then could they be wrong?
If no, then do they really have omniscience?
Those are questions for another video!
For now, we have something of a choice as members of humankind; do we accept 3D reality
(plus time) as being the limits of our existence; as being all there is?
Or do we look to break that universal mold in search of something more, and in a bid
to answer some of life’s biggest unanswered questions?
It started with general relativity, then along came quantum mechanics, and the race to a
theory of everything has been on, ever since.
And, if M-theory were found to be the unifying model… then that’s what would happen if
humanity lived in eleven dimensions.
What do you think?
Is there anything we missed?
Let us know in the comments, check out these other clips from Unveiled, and make sure you
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