From: mk_thisisit
The unification of gravity and quantum mechanics is a significant challenge in modern physics, with these two fields of knowledge being described as fascinating and awaiting unification [00:02:32] [00:02:42].
Current State of Unification Efforts
While some premises suggest that theories of gravity and quantum mechanics have already been combined [00:00:04] [00:02:22], there is currently no full unification [00:02:42]. The challenge lies not in knowing what to combine, but how to connect them [00:02:49].
In the near future, there may be unification [03:52]. A recent article in Nature by some authors claimed to have made significant progress towards unification [03:55]. This process is seen as a path, not a one-time discovery, to achieve full unification [04:08].
The goal is to combine the theory of true electromagnetic, weak, and strong interactions with gravitational interactions [03:39] [03:46].
Potential Impact of Unification
Unifying these theories is expected to change our understanding of the world [00:00:08] [03:21]. It is anticipated to involve a very complicated mathematical formalism [00:00:10] [03:26]. This formalism will likely be accessible to only a narrow group of specialized individuals [03:29].
For the general public, it might simply be “nice to hear that there is unification of gravity and other theories” [03:33].
Practical Implications
It is not certain that unification will change daily lives overnight [03:17]. The connection between gravity and quantum mechanics is currently thought to be required at extremely small distances, on the order of 10^-35, and under very specific conditions that may be difficult to create for a long time [03:00]. Therefore, its immediate practical translation into everyday applications is not guaranteed [03:48].
However, it will be intellectually very interesting [03:15].
Fundamental Questions
Physicists acknowledge that they do not have answers to fundamental questions such as:
- The source of gravity, beyond knowing that it is proportional to mass [09:41].
- Where the laws of physics came from [00:00:21] [09:55].
- Why physical constants (e.g., electron charge, Planck constant) have their specific values [00:00:24] [10:04].
While the anthropological principle suggests that if constants were different, humans would not have come into being, this is considered an “escape from the answer” [10:22]. These unanswered questions highlight the ongoing need for scientific research, as science will never end due to the continuous emergence of such questions [14:52].