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                    Is There a "Theory of 
					Everything" ?



					

					

					

					
					Some of the names of topics in theoretical physics begin to 
					sound more like the nonsense of a Dr. Seuss book than a 
					scientific treatise.  
					One such name could be “The Theory of Everything”.1 
					
					
					
					In the movie depiction of the same name, it is 
					explained as a “single equation” relating all the forces of 
					the universe.  This 
					would imply the four universal forces known to man which are 
					gravity, magnetism, the strong force holding the atomic 
					nucleus together, and the weak force (responsible for such 
					phenomena as radioactive decay).

					

					
					Off-hand, there appears no real reason to attempt such 
					relationship, other than to state each relation separately 
					and allow them to combine into a single set of field 
					equations – the ONE set which stands for all the universal 
					forces.  But to 
					the theoretical physicist, this is only the easy way out. 

					

					
					
					The other approach is to consider a discussion (outside the 
					movie) which works with two theoretical frameworks 
					resembling a “theory of everything” which is General 
					Relativity and Quantum Field Theory. 
					Outright it is thought these two theories are 
					mutually incompatible, that is, they cannot both be right to 
					use at the same time due to their unique domain of 
					applicability.  As 
					one pursues, however, it is found their incompatibility is 
					only an issue in regions of extremely small-scales and 
					high-masses such as within a black hole or right after the 
					big bang.  A 
					theoretical framework can be constructed which reveals an 
					underlying reality, unifying the force of gravity with the 
					other three non-gravitational forces of weak, strong, and 
					electromagnetic force.

					

					
					This undoubtedly has encouraged what is called “String Theory” 
					emerging in the past few decades and is a way of 
					theorizing that the four fundamental forces were combined 
					into one fundamental force at a point in time immediately 
					after the Big Bang 
					
					(10-43 seconds).  
					 Accordingly, every particle in the universe at its 
					most microscopic level consists of varying combinations of 
					vibrating strings (or strands) and it is through these 
					vibratory patterns of strings that a particle of unique mass 
					and force charge is created.

					

					
					
					Others have called these unifying principles the Grand 
					Unified Theory (which combines the strong, weak, and 
					electromagnetic force) or the Superunified Theory which adds 
					on the forth fundamental force of gravity. 

					

					
					So there you have it. 
					A theory of everything. 
					But only a theory unless proven. 
					Why is it needed ?   According to 
					cosmologists:

					

					“..there is strong circumstantial evidence to suggest that a 
					theory at least like a Grand Unified Theory is required to 
					make sense of the Universe.”





					

					

					

					1. The name title “The Theory of 
					Everything” was once expressed by Robert J. Lang during his 
					term at Yale, but then discarded as 
    
					irrelevant nor tangible other than a practical joke, 
					or more likely, a spoof on science.