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THEORY OF EVERYTHING

A theory of everything (ToE ) or final theory , ultimate theory , or master theory is a

hypothetical single, all-encompassing, coherent theoretical framework of physics that fully

explains and links together all physical aspects of the universe. [1 !" #inding a $o% is one of the

ma&orunsolved pro'lems in physics . ver the past few centuries, two theoretical frameworks

have 'een developed that, as a whole, most closely resem'le a $o%. $he two theories upon

which all modern physics rests are general relativity ( *) and +uantum field theory ( #$). * is

a theoretical framework that only focuses on the force of gravity for understanding the universe inregions of 'oth large-scale and high-mass! stars, galaxies, clusters of galaxies, etc. n the other

hand, #$ is a theoretical framework that only focuses on three non-gravitational forces for

understanding the universe in regions of 'oth small scale and low mass! su'-atomic particles,

atoms, molecules, etc. #$ successfully implemented the tandard odel and unified the

interactions (so-called rand /nified $heory ) 'etween the three non-gravitational

forces! weak , strong , and electromagnetic force . [0 !100

$hrough years of research, physicists have experimentally confirmed with tremendous accuracy

virtually every prediction made 'y these two theories when in their appropriate domains ofapplica'ility. n accordance with their findings, scientists also learned that * and #$, as they

are currently formulated, are mutually incompati'le - they cannot 'oth 'e right. ince the usual

domains of applica'ility of * and #$ are so different, most situations re+uire that only one of

the two theories 'e used. [2 [3 !4305433 As it turns out, this incompati'ility 'etween * and #$ is only

an apparent issue in regions of extremely small-scale and high-mass, such as those that exist

within a 'lack hole or during the 'eginning stages of the universe (i.e., the moment immediately

following the 6ig 6ang ). $o resolve this conflict, a theoretical framework revealing a deeper

underlying reality, unifying gravity with the other three interactions, must 'e discovered to

harmoniously integrate the realms of * and #$ into a seamless whole! a single theory that, inprinciple, is capa'le of descri'ing all phenomena. n pursuit of this goal, +uantum gravity has

recently 'ecome an area of active research.

ver the past few decades, a single explanatory framework, called 7 string theory 7, has emerged

that may turn out to 'e the ultimate theory of the universe. any physicists 'elieve that, at

the 'eginning of the universe (up to 18 932 seconds after the 6ig 6ang), the four fundamental

forces were once a single fundamental force. /nlike most (if not all) other theories, string theory

may 'e on its way to successfully incorporating each of the four fundamental forces into a unified

whole. According to string theory, every particle in the universe, at its most microscopic level(:lanck length ), consists of varying com'inations of vi'rating strings (or strands) with preferred

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theoretical_physicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theoretical_physicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_everything#cite_note-Weinberg2011-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_everything#cite_note-Weinberg2011-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unsolved_problems_in_physicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unsolved_problems_in_physicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_relativityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_relativityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_field_theoryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_field_theoryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_Modelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_Modelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Unified_Theoryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weak_forcehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weak_forcehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strong_forcehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_everything#cite_note-Hawking2006-2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_everything#cite_note-Hawking2006-2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_everything#cite_note-Hawking2006-2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_everything#cite_note-Carlip-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_everything#cite_note-Priest2010-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_everything#cite_note-Priest2010-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Banghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_gravityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/String_theoryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planck_epochhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planck_epochhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planck_lengthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_everything#cite_note-Weinberg2011-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unsolved_problems_in_physicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_relativityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_field_theoryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_Modelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Unified_Theoryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weak_forcehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strong_forcehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_everything#cite_note-Hawking2006-2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_everything#cite_note-Carlip-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_everything#cite_note-Priest2010-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Banghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_gravityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/String_theoryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planck_epochhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planck_lengthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theoretical_physics

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