Challenging the Quantization of Gravity: A Physicist's Bet
Physicist Jonathan Oppenheim from University College London is challenging the prevailing belief that gravity must be quantized. Oppenheim argues that gravity, unlike other forces, describes the geometry and curvature of space-time itself, making it fundamentally classical. He is developing hybrid quantum-classical theories that aim to unify classical gravity and quantum mechanics. Oppenheim's research explores the interrelation between the classical and quantum worlds, seeking a deeper theory that is neither purely quantum nor classical. He has made a bet with colleagues in string theory and loop quantum gravity, wagering that space-time is not quantized. Oppenheim believes that the next theory of gravity will be something entirely different from classical or quantum, and experiments are being conducted to test the nature of gravity on the smallest scales.