Celebrating the International Year of Physics: String Theory: Figuring Out What Holds the Universe Together

SUMMER SCIENCE LECTURE SERIES

CELEBRATING THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF PHYSICS

This year marks the 100th anniversary of Albert Einstein's "miracle year" when he published a series of scientific papers that revolutionized our understanding of space, time and the atom. To commemorate this, the United Nations has declared 2005 the International Year of Physics.

This summer, Stanford Continuing Studies, the Stanford Alumni Association and the Office of Science Outreach will host four informal evening talks on physics by Stanford faculty members.

String Theory: Figuring Out What Holds the Universe Together

String theory is a framework which promises to consistently merge Einstein's theory of gravity with quantum mechanics. It has the potential to provide a unified description of all of the forces of nature. Professor Kachru will describe how string theory may modify our most basic notions of physics at both subatomic and cosmological distances.