Includes bibliographical references (pages 315-324) and index.

String theory in a nutshell -- The great clash of worldviews -- The need for unity -- Gravity meets the quantum -- The big ideas -- What has string theory done for you lately? We're living in the midst of a scientific revolution that has captured the general public's attention and imagination. The aim of this new revolution is to develop a theory of everything set of laws of physics that will explain all that can be explained, ranging from the tiniest subatomic particle to the universe as a whole. Here, readers will learn the ideas behind the theories, and their effects upon our world, our civilization, and ourselves. --Publisher description.