If you take GR equations and assume that space has not only 3 dimensions, but 4: 3 "big" ones and 1 small curled into small sphere (it should be small, othervise we would see it the same way we see "big" dimensions in everyday life), and if you also assume that the small curled dimension is symmetric in both "+" and "-" directions (left curl = right curl),then very interesting things happen.

The 4-dimensional GR equations split into two distinctive groups. Three "big" components are the same as the Einstein's equations of GR in 3 dimensions we all know about. But the one in 4-th curled dimension becomes the equation identical to the equation describing electric charge in QED (quantum electrodynamics)! Upon adding the relativistic Lorents transformations it becomes what we call know as Maxwell equations in regular "big" 3 dimensions. So, entire electromagnetism becomes a mathematical outcome of existence and symmetry of extra spatial dimension.

This is not very new idea - it is called "Kaluza-Klein formalism" in theoretical physics after original paper of these physicists showing how electricity may oroginate from gravity was published in 1920.

So, all variety of forces we know (well, there are only 3 so far: gravitational, electromagnetic and nuclear) seems to be just gravity plus extra degrees of freedom of allowed motion (curled spatial dimensions).

Current string theory is heavily based on this finding - it considers that not only all forces, but all particles and antiparticles - ALL STUFF WE KNOW AT ALL (that is why it is called TOE) could be explained as the result of motion of small massless loops (presumably "made" of space itself) in many dimensions: 3 familiar "big" spatial dimension and 7 small dimensions (plus 1-D time, which is not really a dimension at all, because it is not a degree of freedom - you can not move back and forth in time).

So, it may after all be, that our universe is just a geometry, and all objects and phenomena in it are just geometrical objects and geometrical phenomena.

• It's the Aether Bunny all over again. (n/t) - luis_hamburgh - October 1, 2001 - 22:32 UTC
• Thanks, Alex - dolphin - October 1, 2001 - 23:31 UTC
• But Alex... - smartguy - October 2, 2001 - 15:25 UTC
  • Do me a favor and quit calling this stuff - bruce - October 3, 2001 - 04:13 UTC
    • That post was meant for Alex... - smartguy - October 3, 2001 - 19:50 UTC
    • That post was meant for you.. - bruce - October 3, 2001 - 20:57 UTC
  • Back and forth in micro-time - dolphin - October 4, 2001 - 07:03 UTC
    • Thanx for a more dignified response... - smartguy - October 4, 2001 - 17:25 UTC
      • When "time" no longer mean it. - alexander - October 4, 2001 - 22:49 UTC
        • The Einstein-Minkowski Spacetime - luis_hamburgh - October 4, 2001 - 22:56 UTC
          • Minkovsky time. - alexander - October 5, 2001 - 20:30 UTC
            • Alex = L. Ron Hubbard??? - luis_hamburgh - October 6, 2001 - 01:37 UTC
              • By we I mean theoretical physicists. - alexander - October 8, 2001 - 18:48 UTC
                • PhD in BS Detection - luis_hamburgh - October 8, 2001 - 23:15 UTC
                  • Luis, unlike you, I do research and teach physics too. - alexander - October 10, 2001 - 04:22 UTC
                    • I took P.E. once... does that count? - luis_hamburgh - October 10, 2001 - 23:02 UTC
                      • Which achievment? - alexander - October 15, 2001 - 19:59 UTC
                        • Certainly none of yours - luis_hamburgh - October 16, 2001 - 20:05 UTC
                          • LOL on Luis. - alexander - October 17, 2001 - 21:38 UTC
          • A Clockwork Continuum - muqua - October 6, 2002 - 07:42 UTC
            • -clones - bkparque - October 11, 2002 - 21:21 UTC
        • Alex... - smartguy - October 5, 2001 - 01:38 UTC
          • Mark, define "motin trough time". - alexander - October 8, 2001 - 19:01 UTC
            • I read it in a book... - smartguy - October 8, 2001 - 20:46 UTC
              • Perhaps Stephen Hawkings imaginary time idea.... - smartguy - October 8, 2001 - 21:10 UTC
              • Correction for Mark. - alexander - October 10, 2001 - 17:28 UTC
                • Miscomunication and interpretation, not a mistake on my behalf. - smartguy - October 10, 2001 - 18:46 UTC
                  • Mark, universe behaves according to math, not vice versa. - alexander - October 10, 2001 - 20:16 UTC
                    • I appologize for the remark I made... - smartguy - October 10, 2001 - 23:19 UTC
                    • Oh yeah... - smartguy - October 10, 2001 - 23:28 UTC
                  • You might find these useful.. - bruce - October 10, 2001 - 22:20 UTC
                    • Thanx Bruce...(nt) - smartguy - October 10, 2001 - 22:39 UTC
        • Briefly, Alex.... - dolphin - October 6, 2001 - 10:20 UTC
      • Interesting thought..... - smartguy - October 5, 2001 - 18:48 UTC