Trying to understand a sci-fi concept fundamental to the story.

I'm confused about quantum theory, Algebraic K-theory, Almgren–Pitts min-max theory, Approximation theory, Asymptotic theory, Automata theory, Bifurcation theory, Braid theory, Brill–Noether theory, Catastrophe theory, Category theory, Chaos theory, Character theory, Choquet theory, Class field theory, Coding theory, Cohomology theory, Complexity theory, Computation theory, Control theory, Deformation theory, Dimension theory, Distribution theory, Elimination theory, Extremal graph theory, Field theory, Galois theory, Game theory, Graph theory, Grothendieck's Galois theory, Group theory, Hodge theory, Homology theory, Homotopy theory, Information theory, Invariant theory, K-theory, Knot theory, L-theory, Local class field theory, M-theory, Matrix theory, Measure theory, Model theory, Morse theory, Module theory, Network theory, Nevanlinna theory, Number theory, Obstruction theory, Operator theory, Optimization theory, Order theory, Percolation theory, Perturbation theory, Probability theory, Proof theory, Quantum theory, Queue theory, Recursion theory, Relational theory, Representation theory, Ring theory, Scheme theory, Seiberg–Witten theory, Semigroup theory, Set theory, Sheaf theory, Singularity theory, Spectral theory, String theory, Sturm-Liouville theory, Surgery theory, Topos theory, Transcendental number theory, Twistor theory, Type theory, Universal theory, The mental process of females of my species, also, why does the word theory start looking goofy when it is repeated many times?

/r/ThePeripheral Thread