Theoretical Physicists Develop Test for String Theory

When someone introduced to the string theory on a physics talk session, he said that the string theory isn't a theory but a hypothesis since there haven't nor came up with a experiment to confirm it. Now it seems physicists will start the first experiment for testing the string theory this year.

However, we'll not know whether the theory is correct any time soon

"If the test does not find what the theory predicts about W boson scattering," he added, "it would be evidence that one of string theory's key mathematical assumptions is violated. In other words, string theory - as articulated in its current form - would be proven impossible."

It's like finding a counter example: it does not prove the theory is correct, but it only prove the current theory about the string is wrong.

"If the bounds are satisfied, we would still not know that string theory is correct," Distler said. "But if the bounds are violated, we would know that string theory, as it is currently understood, could not be correct. At the very least, the theory would have to be reshaped in a highly nontrivial way."

Everything I know about the string theory is from watching PBS NOVA program few years ago. You can watch entire 3 hours of The Elegant Universe on PBS site.

Link via dvorak.org/blog