Professor Fay Dowker: What is the problem of quantum gravity?

Professor Fay Dowker: What is the problem of quantum gravity?

Einstein’s general relativity explains gravity, but it contradicts quantum theory – is there a solution to one of modern physics’ greatest problems?

Amy Arthur

This week, we’re going on a search for the theory of everything.

The two main theories of physics are at odds with one another.Einstein's general relativity explains gravity, but it contradicts quantum theory: how we understand matter, atoms and particles.

Theoretical physicist at Imperial College London Professor Fay Dowker has been working on a solution to this quantum gravity problem, and tells us why the theories are incompatible, and how she plans to bring them together.

If you have a burning science question you want an expert to answer, send them to us on twitter at@sciencefocus, and we may answer them in a future episode.

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Amy Arthur

Science journalist and author

Amy Arthur is an award-winning writer and science journalist, specialising in health and wellbeing. She enjoys busting myths, trouncing TikTok trends and revealing surprising science. She is also the author of Pace Yourself: How to have energy in an exhausting world. Her BA degree specialised in science publishing and she has been working as a journalist since graduating in 2018. In 2020, Amy was named Editorial Assistant of the Year by the British Society of Magazine Editors.
Professor Fay Dowker: What is the problem of quantum gravity? © Imperial College London

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