To understand the concept of connecting all matter together, we can explore the theoretical framework of physics that attempts to unify all fundamental forces, known as "Theory of Everything" (TOE) or "Unified Field Theory." Although such a theory has not been conclusively established, there are various approaches and ideas that have been proposed.
String theory is one prominent candidate for a TOE. It suggests that the fundamental constituents of matter are not point particles but tiny, vibrating strings. In string theory, the existence of additional spatial dimensions beyond the familiar three dimensions (length, width, and height) is postulated. Specifically, string theory requires a total of ten dimensions (nine space dimensions and one time dimension) in its most well-known formulation, called the superstring theory. These extra dimensions are considered compactified, meaning they are curled up or "hidden" at scales too small for us to directly perceive.
The idea of extra dimensions provides a framework for understanding the different forces and particles in the universe as manifestations of various vibrational patterns of these strings. The connections between matter and forces can arise from the interactions and geometrical arrangements of these higher-dimensional structures.
It's important to note that the existence of extra dimensions and the details of their geometry and size are still speculative and subject to ongoing research. String theory itself comes in different versions, and there are alternative approaches, such as M-theory, which encompasses various string theories and incorporates eleven dimensions.
In summary, the theoretical framework of string theory and related ideas involving extra dimensions provides a potential avenue for connecting all matter together, but these concepts are still in the realm of active research and remain to be experimentally verified.