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: