TV NOVA - Season 31 Episode 4 : The Elegant Universe: String's the Thing (2) NOVA - Season 31 Episode 4 : The Elegant Universe: String's the Thing (2) 7.008/10 by 131 users Part 2, "String's the Thing," opens with a whimsical scene in a movie theater in which the history of the universe runs backwards to the Big Bang, the moment at which general relativity and quantum mechanics both came into play, and therefore the point at which our conventional model of reality breaks down. Then it's string theory to the rescue as Greene describes the steps that led from a forgotten 200-year-old mathematical formula to the first glimmerings of strings—quivering strands of energy whose different vibrations give rise to quarks, electrons, photons, and all other elementary particles. Strings are truly tiny, being smaller than an atom by the same factor that a tree is smaller than the solar system. But, as Greene explains, they are able to combine the laws of the large and the laws of the small into a proposal for a single, harmonious theory of everything. Details Casts Posters Images Title NOVA - Season 31 Episode 4 : The Elegant Universe: String's the Thing (2) Alternative Titles PBS新星Nova, نوا, نووآ, PBS Nova First Air Date 1974-03-03 Last Air Date 2025-09-24 Number of Episodes 1012 Number of Seasons 52 Genres Documentary, Networks PBS, Casts Plot Keywords , Episodes List NOVA Season 31 :Episode 1 Infinite Secrets Infinite Secrets 2003-09-30 PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA demystifies science and... NOVA Season 31 :Episode 2 Who Killed the Red Baron? Who Killed the Red Baron? 2003-10-07 PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA demystifies science and... NOVA Season 31 :Episode 3 The Elegant Universe: Einstein's Dream (1) The Elegant Universe: Einstein's Dream (1) 2003-10-28 PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA demystifies science and... NOVA Season 31 :Episode 4 The Elegant Universe: String's the Thing (2) The Elegant Universe: String's the Thing (2) 2003-10-28 PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA demystifies science and... NOVA Season 31 :Episode 5 The Elegant Universe: Welcome to the 11th Dimension (3) The Elegant Universe: Welcome to the 11th Dimension (3) 2003-11-04 PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA demystifies science and... NOVA Season 31 :Episode 6 Wright Brothers' Flying Machine Wright Brothers' Flying Machine 2003-11-11 PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA demystifies science and... NOVA Season 31 :Episode 7 Magnetic Storm Magnetic Storm 2003-11-18 PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA demystifies science and... NOVA Season 31 :Episode 8 Volcano Above the Clouds Volcano Above the Clouds 2003-11-25 PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA demystifies science and... NOVA Season 31 :Episode 9 MARS Dead or Alive MARS Dead or Alive 2004-01-04 PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA demystifies science and... NOVA Season 31 :Episode 10 Secrets of the Crocodile Caves Secrets of the Crocodile Caves 2004-01-20 PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA demystifies science and... NOVA Season 31 :Episode 11 Dogs and More Dogs Dogs and More Dogs 2004-02-03 PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA demystifies science and... NOVA Season 31 :Episode 12 Descent Into the Ice Descent Into the Ice 2004-02-10 PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA demystifies science and... NOVA Season 31 :Episode 13 Crash of Flight 111 Crash of Flight 111 2004-02-17 PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA demystifies science and... NOVA Season 31 :Episode 14 Life and Death in the War Zone Life and Death in the War Zone 2004-03-02 PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA demystifies science and... NOVA Season 31 :Episode 15 Hunt for the Supertwister Hunt for the Supertwister 2004-03-30 PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA demystifies science and... NOVA Season 31 :Episode 16 World in the Balance: The People Paradox (1) World in the Balance: The People Paradox (1) 2004-04-20 PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA demystifies science and... NOVA Season 31 :Episode 17 World in the Balance: China Revs Up (2) World in the Balance: China Revs Up (2) 2004-04-20 PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA demystifies science and... NOVA Season 31 :Episode 18 Battle Plan Under Fire Battle Plan Under Fire 2004-05-04 PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA demystifies science and...