Think of when they're figuring out about faster-than-light travel. It's been a while since I read it, but I seem to recall them using a sort of toned-down version of string theory when they explain how it works.
Didn't they "pop out" and back into reality? I do remember something about an "aiua" or something like that. I'll read back into it when I go home. I don't have the books on me.