There are 5 fundamental forces.

These are the gravitational force, the

electric force, the magnetic force, the weak nuclear force and the strong
nuclear force. Every phenomenon can be explained by these five forces.
Over the last century, we have been trying to unite all these forces into
one single theory.
The weak nuclear force is responsible for beta decay, which is a form of
radio activity. It also plays a major role in nuclear fission, which is an
important process for, for example, the sun to exist.
The strong nuclear force binds protons and neutrons together, thus
making sure that atoms dont fall apart and therefore making up all matter
we know.
Maxwell has succeeded in uniting the electric force and the magnetic
force. When an electron moves, which is the basis of electricity, it creates
a magnetic field. Maxwell came up with a set of equations to unity these
forces.
The last one is gravity. The other forces, the electric, magnetic, weak and
strong nuclear forces can be explained by quantum mechanics. Gravity
however does not really fit in because it is one hundred million million
million million million million times weaker than the strong nuclear force,
and also much weaker than the other forces.
This means that gravity doesnt fit in the picture of quantum mechanics.
The gravitational force is so small it doesnt influence the quantum
mechanical world. Einsteins general relativity on the other hand, does
explain how gravity works. General relativity is the combination of space
and time into a space-time fabric. This space-time fabric includes the three
of our dimensions, length, width and depth, and the fourth dimension of
time. General relativity not only explains the way gravity works, but it also
explains what gravity is. Namely, the curvature of space-time itself.
Though, when trying to combine gravity with the other forces, physicists
are still unable to make it work.
Quantum mechanics is the competing theory. It deals with the really small
and the other forces. That is as said before, the weak force, the strong
force and the electromagnetic force. These forces have in common that
they are all only applicable over microscopic distances, since their
interactions are caused by subatomic particles known as agents. Quarks,
the particles that make up matter like protons and neutrons, exchange
gluons. This is actually the strong force at work. When photons are
exchanged it causes phenomena related to electromagnetism and this
accounts for the weak force. Quantum mechanics has already been able to
mathematically unify electromagnetism and the weak force into the
electroweak force. The theory is that if the universe was hot enough that
these forces would merge. When the temperatures are even higher the
strong force also would join in. The fact that gravity does not fit in with this

picture can be explained by the fact that its agent, the graviton, has never
been observed yet. Also, from a mathematical perspective it makes no
sense.
Physicists have been trying to unite quantum mechanics and general
relativity with little success. The idea is that string theory might be the
candidate that will succeed in doing exactly that.
In other words, string theory is supposed to explain everything. But what
does it mean to explain everything? It should answer at least the following
questions:
- Where does the universe begin and where is it going?
- Could the universe have been different?
Furthermore, it would explain everything we see, feel or measure. We
would understand all the forces and types of matter. We would know what
is most basic and how everything else is composed of these basic parts.
So what are those strings?
String theory basically says everything is made of extremely tiny vibrating
strings of energy. The problem with our fundamental particles now is that
there are too many different particles to make it work, like too many
different shaped bricks in a house. If all the fundamental particles existed
of these strings, it would work. The foundation for different particles are all
strings, but with a different vibration. So basically strings would make up
everything. It doesnt matter if it are force or matter particles, all are
based on these strings of energy.
The strings themselves vibrate in 10 spatial dimensions instead of the
three we know. Since strings are small as anything can be, they cannot
have internal parts and therefore are the most basic things in the
universe.
In quantum mechanics, things can be zero-sized. This is because many
calculations of particle properties gave infinity. Strings are never zerosized and therefore do not give the infinite results which can be found in
quantum mechanics.
String theory also solves the problem quantum mechanics has with
gravity. String theory incorporates the graviton, the force particle for
gravity. Gravity becomes just another force and all forces can be explained
as vibrations of strings.
Now let's say this is all true and proven. That would bring along some
consequences, and possibilities that we often can't observe.
The following things might result from string theory:
The first thing is parallel universes.
Some interpretations of string theory suggest that our universe is not the
only one. For string theory to work, it was discovered that our universe
should contain at least 10 spatial dimensions. An extra dimension was
needed to incorporate the various competing string theories into one
superstring theory. The idea is that the 10 spatial dimensions more or less
move within this eleventh dimension. This could mean that there are other
universes out there, floating around in the eleventh dimension, invisible to
us.

Second is Wormholes, also called the Einstein- Rosen Bridge. It connects

two distant regions of space, and in some theories it can even form a
bridge between parallel universes.
Thirdly, we have time travelling. Some physicists believe that string theory
may allow multiple dimensions. Not just in space, but also in time. This
would mean that we might find a way in the future to discover new means
to travel through these time-dimensions. Allowing us in other words, to
travel through time.
And lastly, it could confirm the big bang theory. Some people agree that
string theory supports the current big bang model. One of the theories
revolving around this is that the big bang resulted from two different
universes colliding or separating in the eleventh dimension, creating the
universe we now know, or think we know.
Summarizing, string theory might be a valid theory to explain everything
around us. It possibly explains the entire universe we know, or we think we
know, but also shows us aspects we never even dreamed of being
possible. Even if string theory is proven to be wrong at some point, it may
have brought us a little closer to understanding the universe.