The Duel: Strings versus Loops

Abstract

Physicists in search of the foundation of the world: how tiny objects can create matter, energy and even space and time - and possibly countless other universes. -- This article is meant as an introduction into quantum geometry (loop quantum gravity) and string theory, written for the general audience. Partly, this article is also a conference report and review, based on the "Strings Meet Loops" conference at the Max-Planck-Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute), Golm/Germany, in October 2003. -- Keywords: quantum geometry, loop quantum gravity, string theory, string cosmology, spin networks, spin foams, anthropic principle, theory of everything, Abhay Ashtekar, Martin Bojowald, Michael Douglas, Jerzy Lewandowski, Hermann Nicolai, Robert Oeckl, Fernando Quevedo, Carlo Rovelli, Amitabha Sen, Lee Smolin, Leonard Susskind.