Collapsing 4D star created universe?

Saw a post on fb that some canadian scientists speculate that te universe may have been created by a collapsing four dimensional star. Had something todo with membrane theory. But how can scientists, ho require proof, "believe" in membrane theory, string theory or extra dimensions, hen they cant be observed by us even if they did exist? How is that any less of a leap of faith than believing in god? And where dis they 4D star come from? How was it created if there was no universe?