Cosmic Journeys

OK, this is really a hard concept to get your head around, so don't feel bad if you don't get it at first. In a great book called "Godel Escher Bach - An Eternal Golden Braid", author Douglas Hofstadter states that it's impossible to completely perceive or understand a system in which you are embedded: you can only fully understand it if you're outside of it. With that in mind, magine that you are a TWO dimensional being, living say, on the surface of a never-ending membrane. You can stretch your mind to understand the concept of going forever, endlessly, in any direction on that plane. What's harder to get, as a 2D creature, that there's a THIRD dimension, one perpendicular to the two that comprise all existence for you. You can never get there; you can't even perceive it. It is possible, though, that the plane you're on TRAVELS THROUGH IT - like a piece of paper in the wind. That's how the other (proposed) eight dimensions in M-theory interact with our three: they're perpendicular to us and we flow through them (and incidentally, we're perpendicular to them, and they float through US, too).

I agree this is an awesome show and much needed to give us all a sense of perspective.There's one idea I have, but I'm not sure if it fits into the "cosmic" parameter. I don't understand the dimensions that are referred to in string theory. On a theoretical level, yes, I can imagine a vague picture of what they might actually be. If someone can clarify that for me, it would be greatly appreciated. For example, I know that multiple dimensions would have to co-exist in the same three-dimensional experience I have every day. But are they separate or like nested Russian dolls? I need a better grip on that idea.

Great show so far! My suggestion would be an episode on the theories of time travel. My favorite topic! And there's a lot of info out there. Thanks!

Producer comment: The narrator is Dave Brody, a well-known science journalist and Executive Producer with Space.com. Cosmic Journeys itself is an unusual experiment, a series of idea and information-rich reports on science topics for the web. Upcoming episodes explore hurricane intensity prediction, ultra-massive black holes, the time scales of the universe, and more. We welcome comments and suggestions, including ideas for future episodes. Thomas Lucas.