String theory’s unexpected and robust mathematical relationships may hold the key to understanding the universe, even if they don't neatly fit our current understanding of reality, writes Tasneem Zehra Husain.

Is string theory worth pursuing? This question, like the perennial Jack-in-the-Box, never stays down for long and - like said toy - creates a commotion every time it arises. Before calm is (temporarily) restored, it seems there are certain tunes that must be played. Typically, here’s how it goes:  

Critics dismiss string theory on the charge that it’s not science. A successful scientific theory must incorporate known physical phenomena and make verifiable predictions about the natural world. String theory hasn’t, so it’s just a fantasy, they say; it should be abandoned. Proponents argue this assessment is superficial. They agree that concrete, testable, predictions are an essential feature of a mature theory - and remain an active goal of research - but string theory is still growing. It is not old enough to be oracular. More time is needed, they say; condemning it now would be premature.