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Cosmology

Original questions

Nature volume 436, pages 920–921 (2005)Cite this article

The lack of a coherent quantum description of gravity has impeded our understanding of the physics that determined how the Universe began. A synthesis of recent ideas may take us a step farther back in time.

Among the deepest, borderline-philosophical questions in modern physics is that of the origin and formation of the Universe. Earlier attempts to formulate an answer that takes into account existing theories and observations have failed because of obstacles posed by gravity. Mulryne et al.1, writing in Physical Review D, provide a ‘loop quantum gravitational’ model that successfully merges current ideas, and which may enable us to overcome such difficulties.

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Figure 1: Out of the loop.

M. BOJOWALD

References

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  1. the Max-Planck-Institut für Gravitationsphysik (Albert-Einstein-Institut), Am Mühlenberg 1, Golm, D-14476, Germany

    Martin Bojowald

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  1. Martin Bojowald
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Bojowald, M. Original questions. Nature 436, 920–921 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/436920a

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