Problems with understanding  string theory

       For string theory to be valid the universe must function in ten dimensions instead of the currently believed four. There are several ways in which these extra dimensions can exist. They are thought to be on a scale far too small for current technology to see. Much in the same way that a person viewed from a distance appears to loose a dimension and is seen as a two dimensional line. Because of the nature of the six missing dimensions an infinite number of hypotheses can be provided as to their position/nature.

The picture seen below is an attempt at representing the six missing dimensions of string theory. It is a representation of a Calabi-Yau shape. One of the many possible models contained in theory depicts the ten-dimensional geometry of the universe to have the form M X V where M is the four space-time dimensions currently known and V is a six dimensional compact Calabi-Yau space.

Click image for more information on Calabi-Yau spaces

          For String theory to function these strings must be minuscule. The average theoretical size for a string is 10^-33 cm. The simplest way to comprehend the minute size of the strings is the use of a comparison. In size, strings are to quarks, what quarks are to humans.

String theory is also dependent on a series expansion, an infinite number of terms which in order for string theory to be perfectly correct would have to yield a finite number when added. . Despite being one of the problems in string theory, this also doubles as a blessing. This mathematical quirk allows for the elimination of possible theories of ways in which the six missing dimensions are wrapped up.