Before I explain the significance of Smolin’s conclusion, it is important to understand what string theory is, what problems it is attempting to solve and why, in Smolin’s view, it has failed.

I don't understand string theory. In fact, I bet there's fewer than 1% of the world that can speak cogently on the subject, but I am fascinated by the concept and have read a bit on it. Not enough ...

The String Theory Backlash Discover how the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1984 reshaped our understanding of the Standard Model of particle physics.

And we expect it to be discovered, of course. NOVA: How far are we along the road to fully understanding string theory? Gross: String theory could be right and totally incomplete.