String Theory - Not Sure If I Understand

[nodthug]

If the universe's fundamental building blocks are one-dimensional extended objects rather then 0-dimensional points, wouldn't this completely rule out the notion that atoms exist? If so, would cosmic strings be measurable, or more of a conceptual rule of thumb that helps us understand the universe better?

[[Tycho?]]

Uh, no, it doesn't rule out atoms. Atoms themselves are made up of several different particles, they are not considered to be point particles.