The elegant universe. Superstrings, hidden dimensions, and the quest for the ultimate theory

In a rare blend of scientific insight and writing as elegant as the theories it explains, Brian Greene, one of the world's leadin string theorists, peels away the layers of mystery surrounding string theory to reveal a universe that consists of 11 dimensions, where the fabric of space tears and repairs itself, and all matter - from the smallest quarks to the most gargantuan supernovas - is generated by the vibrations of microscopically tiny loops of energy. Green uses everything from an amusement park ride to ants on a hose to explain the beautiful yet bizarre realities that modern physics to both illuminate and entertain, this book is a tour de force of scientific writing - a delightful, lucid voyage through modern physics that brings us closer to understanding how the universe works.