Since Einstein, physicists have been pursuing a holy grail - a single theory that would order all the subatomic particles in the universe and unify the forces of nature. Such a theory would answer questions like: How did the universe begin? What is the origin of time? What is matter? What is the ultimate meaning of physical laws?

F. David Peat explains the development and meaning of the theory they came up with - the Superstrings Theory - in a thoroughly readable, dramatic manner accessible to lay readers, even those with no knowledge of maths. The theory states that everything in the universe - matter, forces, even space itself - consists of minuscule strings of ten dimensions, six of which are so tightly curled up that only four are visible to us. The consequences of this theory are nothing less than astonishing.