The Elegant Universe: Part 1

NOVA brings you stories from the frontlines of science and engineering, answering the big questions of today and tomorrow, from how our ancestors lived, to whether parallel universes exist, to how technology will transform our lives. Visit the official website to watch full-length documentaries, or explore our world through short-form video, on our digital publication NOVA Next.

Season 30 Episode 12 | 52m 55s | CC

"Einstein's Dream," introduces string theory and shows how modern physics—composed of two theories that are ferociously incompatible—reached its schizophrenic impasse: One theory, general relativity, successfully describes big things like stars and galaxies, while another, quantum mechanics, is equally successful at explaining small things like atoms and subatomic particles.

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52:56

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The Elegant Universe: Part 2

Do miniscule vibrating strands of energy hold the key to a unified theory of physics?

53:06

NOVA

The Elegant Universe: Part 3

Will experimental particle physics confirm the wild predictions of string theory?

Funding for NOVA is provided by David H. Koch, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and PBS viewers. Original funding provided by Microsoft, Sprint, the Park Foundation, the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Energy, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Volkswagen of America, (Promotional Sponsor: SEED Magazine), George D. Smith, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS Stations

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