This is very confusing because there are multiple uses of the term "string" in fundamental physics and they mean very different things. Cosmic strings are basically defects in the fabric of space time that might have formed as the universe cooled down from a very hot early state. They result from a phase transition... they're sort of like the defects you see in the phase transition from liquid water to ice (pull out your tray of ice cubes and you'll see all sorts of interesting "defects" created as the ice formed). For more info on cosmic strings try http://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/user/gr/public/cs_home.html

String *theory* on the other hand is a theory in which the fundamental particles are not really point particles, but are vibrations on tiny strings. Try http://superstringtheory.com/basics/basic4.html as a starting point to learn more about this.

Todd

On Wednesday, April 9, 2003, at 02:27 PM, Christina Wilkinson wrote:
> I was wondering if anyone knows any good places to find out what
> cosmic strings are? I keep hearing about them, but I’ve had some
> conflicting definitions. Or better yet, does anyone know what a
> cosmic string is?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Christina Wilkinson