The Class of 1949 Auditorium in Houston Hall, with a capacity of no more than 250, held close to 400 people Tuesday night. Students filled the aisles, spilling out the door to hear Brian Greene, a renowned physicist and the leading expert on superstring theory. The speech, sponsored by Penn's Philomathean Society, drew double the attendance of last year's. In a lecture echoing his Pulitzer Prize-finalist book, The Elegant Universe, Greene presented the superstring theory as a solution to incongruencies of two fundamental theories in physics -- general relativity and quantum mechanics. Using analogies to rubber sheets and marbles, Greene explained that general relativity often applies on the macro level, with planets and stars, while quantum mechanics often explain things on the micro level, like atoms. The theories, however, create conflict in studying things simultaneously large and small, such as black holes and the birth of the universe. The superstring theory, Greene said, unites the "laws of the small with laws of the big." According to this theory, the smallest elements of matter are not points of particles like atoms, but are in fact "tiny filaments of vibrating energy" that resemble loops of string. The theory also demands the existence of more than three dimensions, possibly numbering past six. While no conclusive testing has confirmed this theory as of yet, it has made significant waves. "I'm approaching it with distrust until we see enough evidence, but it's very convincing," said Felix Mendoza, a junior physics major in the College. Non-physics majors applauded the simplicity with which Greene explained the topic. "You don't have to know anything," said Philomathean Society Treasurer Jesse Cohn, a Wharton junior. "He uses analogies anyone can understand, even without a science background." Some, however, felt that Greene could have gone into more detail. "There was too much emphasis on trying to clarify things," College sophomore Jacob Dickstein said. College junior Kevin Dougherty, the second censor of the Philomathean Society, expressed delight at the successful turnout. "When I was first doing this I thought, 'Who in the world would come to a physics lecture?'" Dougherty told the crowd. "I was very pleasantly surprised."
The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.
DonatePlease note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.
