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Sometimes the imagination gets ahead of reality. In the case of research at Harvard University and Geneva, Switzerland there is to be an attempt to determine if there are dimensions outside the three that are commonly acknowledged. Following mathematical models, a suggestion has been made that the universe is not restricted to x,y,z as definitive characteristics. This is called the String theory or the "glam" theory. In the imagination of these scientist, the other dimensions are lost from view because they exist only on a Lilliputian scale. But, and this is a big but, they propose that these dimensions may be observed if gravitational fields are measured. A particle that darts into one of these other dimensions would suddenly lose mass until it returned and this might be measured. Such is the proposal of Dr. Lisa Randall of Harvard.
Stepping back away from the scientific endeavours for a moment, there are a couple of analogies that can be made, the first is from the writing of a famous mathematician, Rev. Dodgson, who we all know as Lewis Carroll. In passing through a looking glass, a strange new world was revealed. Maybe not so far fetched after all(?)
If Lisa's glam theory survives the gravitational test, and if visual images can make this passage, how about the other senses, sound, smell and touch.
Construct, if you will, a piece of string into which a number of knots have been tied, then to make the image more interesting, match up the two ends and intertwine them is such a manner that there is no beginning or end (you have created a form of a mobus loop, cylindrical rather than planar.) Now as you pull this real piece of string through your fingers, much like a rosary; the mind can visualize (or you can come to believe) wondrous things as each knot (bead) is encountered. Science and Religion are not all that different.
Here then is an ode to Lisa Randall and her "String Theory."
Untying the Knots in a Piece of String
When Lisa Randall(1) begins her tale,
Of mysteries so small, they're beyond the pale,
Seeking out a forth dimension,
As tho it never existed before; in imagination.
There are dimensions, more that one,
To be counted on fingers and the thumb.
First comes the easy ones if you please,
Described as x and y and z.
Next the senses, not to be outdone,
Touch, sight, sound with smell and taste rolled into one.
That adds up to seven by my count,
And there's more to add to the amount.
Consult us now the Rev. Dodgson,
For a treatise on illumination.
Silvered glass came into play
As he amused his wards on a sunny day.
The Children admired themselves in a reflecting source.
It was a mirror image that amused them, of course.
When illuminated from all around,
Their images did rebound.
But from a single, point source of light
There's no reflection. Only their shadow is in sight.
They've lost their third dimension.
Sense you now the rising tension?
Approaching very near the mirror's face,
their shadows disappeared without a trace.
Did their shadows emerge on the other side?
Leading, images as they grow tall, fat and wide.
Into another world, of the looking glass,
Is it possible they did pass?
A mystery land of new dimension(s)
With new sounds, smells and feels to mention.
Consider first a sound that's emitted,
Passing through, absorbed or just reflected?
The smell of rose and garlic pure.
Passed through, reflected or trapped, I'm not so sure.
Consider next temperatures; both hot and cold.
Touch the surface if you're bold.
That's a dimension which brings to mind,
Maxwell's Demon in like kind.
Perhaps in the mirror he does dwell,
Passing those who meet his challenge, very well.
He lives in that Lilliputian world and all,
That's envisioned by Lisa Randall.
Use your Hadron Collider as a measuring stick.
Adjust mirrors and magnifying glasses, that's the trick.
But remember the science of the elite and renown,
Must pass before the likes of Sam Butler and Thomas Browne.
In Butler's writing(2), he does relate,
How a little one doomed the fate,
Of Scientist large and small,
Who reasoned not so well at all.
They took to heart and put to paper,
What they did imagine to be most proper.
T'was a beast of great dimension,
That moved about, without suspension.
Marvels of observations they had made,
Things unimagined by de Sade.
Describing what they did behold,
To be published in Transactions we are told.
But, Footboys (now known as grad student or post-doc),
Around the scientific instrument did flock,
And found that with proper magnification,
Things looked small or great depending upon position.
Then came Sir Thomas Browne(3).
Took to task those of renown.
Pointed out for all to see,
The fallacies of that, which was "assumed" to be.
Geese that from trees were born,
Animals most forlorn,
Creatures large and small, and we might add,
Noses growing on a shoulder pad.
All these and more, Sir Thomas put to rout,
When true knowledge came about.
Which brings us back to this very day,
The glam theory in physics may have its sway(?)
But when you toy with a piece of string
Spending great sums for the results you bring.
Measuring gravity's force on particles small
It's possible that Dodgson was right after all.
So dear Lisa, Let us reflect,
(No pun intended) but as you suspect,
Dimensions of more than three,
Do exist, if only in the minds of such as wee.
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(1) As reported by Sharon Begley, Extra Dimensions: They Can't Be Seen, But May be Measured, Wall Street Journal May 24, 2002:
(2) Elephant on the Moon. Samuel Butler, Genuine Remains, The Poetical Works of Samuel Butler, With Life, Critical Dissertation, and Explanatory Notes by Rev. George Gilfillan. Edinburgh, 1854, Vol. 2. Samuel Butler, the author of Hudibras, penned the poem in the mid 1600's.
(3)The Works of Sir Thomas Browne, Edited by Charles Sayle, Edinburgh, 1927. (1605-1682)
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