Physicists searching for a better understanding of quantum gravity stumbled upon something unexpected: the defining signatures of string theory. Imagine slicing an apple into smaller and smaller pieces. First you would reach molecules, then atoms, and eventually the subatomic particles inside them, including protons, quarks, and gluons. According to string theory, however, nature may continue…

A new quantum gravity theory suggests the Big Bang may have unfolded naturally—and could soon be testable. Scientists at the University of Waterloo have introduced a new approach to understanding how the universe began, one that could reshape current ideas about the Big Bang and the earliest stages of cosmic history. Their research indicates that [...]

Einstein–Rosen bridges may reflect a two-directional structure of time that preserves information and hints at a pre–Big Bang universe. Wormholes are commonly portrayed as cosmic passageways that connect distant parts of space or even different moments in time. However, that popular image stems from a misunderstanding of earlier work by physicists Albert Einstein and Nathan [...]

A new theoretical framework shows how subtle fluctuations in spacetime could be detected using existing interferometers. Researchers led by the University of Warwick have created a single, practical roadmap for hunting “spacetime fluctuations,” the tiny random ripples that many quantum gravity ideas suggest could be woven into spacetime itself. The possibility that spacetime is not [...]