UW-Madison physicists developed a new method of projecting possible shapes of extra dimensions, according to a study released Friday in Physical Review Letters.
The research is based on string theory assumptions, or that all matter in the universe is made up of submicroscopic, vibrating strings of energy.
The mathematics of string theory suggest there are 10 dimensions—three spatial dimensions, time and six more ""hidden"" dimensions ""curled in tiny geometric shapes at every single point in our universe,"" according to a University Communications release.
The researchers use a map of cosmic energy released after the Big Bang, which has remained in approximately the same pattern for the last 13 billion years.
These ""patterns of cosmic energy can hold clues to the geometry of the six-dimensional shape,"" according to the release.
UW-Madison physicist Gary Shiu, who led the study published in Letters Friday, told University Communications that the multi-dimensional shapes are too small to observe through normal scientific means, but that the pattern of cosmic energy in the sky can indicate the shapes of the other six dimensions, much like a shadow suggests its object's shape.
