Mirror symmetry (string theory)

Mirror symmetry is like having two mirrors that are facing each other. When you stand in between them, you can see your reflection in both mirrors.

In string theory, there are different shapes called Calabi-Yau manifolds. These shapes are like different types of mirrors. If you have a string moving around in one of these shapes, it will create certain patterns of waves.

What mirror symmetry says is that if you take one Calabi-Yau shape and look at the patterns of waves created by a string moving inside it, you can find another Calabi-Yau shape that will create the same patterns of waves. It's like finding a reflection of the first shape in a mirror!

This is important because it means that certain calculations that are very hard to do for one shape can be easier to do for the "mirror" shape. So it helps scientists understand more about string theory and the universe around us.