Bosonic M theory

We conjecture that there exists a strong coupling limit of bosonic string t heory which is related to the 26 dimensional theory in the same way that 11 dimensional M theory is related to superstring theory. More precisely, we believe that bosonic string theory is the compactification on a line interv al of a 27 dimensional theory whose low-energy limit contains gravity and a three-form potential. The line interval becomes infinite in the strong cou pling limit, and this may provide a stable ground state of the theory. We d iscuss some of the consequences of this conjecture. (C) 2001 American Insti tute of Physics.