In all the cases that have been historically tested, it agrees with observations, as the article claims. It doesn't mean that's all there is. At least in the pa

In all the cases that have been historically tested, it agrees with observations, as the article claims. It doesn't mean that's all there is. At least in the particular example of string theory, it is way more than that. 1. Firstly, it is more a framework, rather than a specific model. Eg: You cannot test statistical mechanics (framework) as such, you test the kinetic theory of gases (model). String theory is still quite nascent: there's been tremendous progress, but the goals are also very ambitious. It might take a few more decades for scientific research to culminate in a concrete model that provides ripe pickings for practical applications. 2. There are definite some limits where string theory has added new insights on things we simply had no clue about (One such poster child is the concept of "dualities" between field theories, and new ways to understand very practical aspects of quantum field theory.) I do not wish to go into too many details, for fear of digressing. Consider this apocryphal story about Faraday: http://www.snopes.com/quotes/faraday.asp http://www.snopes.com/quotes/faraday.asp Sometimes it takes a lot of imagination and a significant period of time before progress in basic science can be applied to human existence. But in the long run, it will invariably alter the situation drastically, in a way we can barely imagine. 1. http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/12/22/material-question http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/12/22/material-questi... 2. Amara's law: "We tend to overestimate the effect of a technology in the short run and underestimate the effect in the long run." Given the possible payoff in the long run, imho, the investment being made today is a trivial amount. Eg: "It's been only half jokingly said that today a third of the GDP is attributable to quantum mechanics." http://www.fnal.gov/pub/today/Augustine2.html http://www.fnal.gov/pub/today/Augustine2.html