Theories of Everything: The Quest for Ultimate Explanation

Modern physicists believe they are getting closer to a Theory of Everything (TOE), a single, all-embracing picture of the laws of nature. Astronomer Barrow ( The World Within the World ) explores the topsy-turvy implications of current research and speculation. Some TOEs permit many possible universes to exist; in a number of creation scenarios, wormholes physically link a ``Mother Universe'' to simultaneously-born baby universes. Superstring theories--the most popular candidates for a viable TOE--presuppose either nine or 25 dimensions of space instead of the familiar three. Another implication is that the constants of nature--Einstein's ``divine inputs''--may shift in value. A mind-boggling intellectual adventure, this thoroughgoing, often technical discussion encompasses the nature of time and current wrangling among physicists and mathematicians over whether the universe resembles a vast computer program, a kaleidoscopic pattern or neither. (Mar.)