Image: Science Photo Library - MARK GARLICK
ABSTRACT breaks down mind-bending scientific research, future tech, new discoveries, and major breakthroughs.
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Sougato Bose, a professor of physics at UCL who wasn’t involved in these latest papers, is hopeful that the theory and future experiments will put an end to the battle for supremacy in a theory to understand the universe. “Experiments to test the nature of spacetime will take a large-scale effort, but they're of huge importance from the perspective of understanding the fundamental laws of nature,” he said in a press statement. “I believe these experiments are within reach – these things are difficult to predict, but perhaps we'll know the answer within the next 20 years.”Šoda, whose calculations helped guide the project, agrees. “I think there is merit in every new experiment. Our experimental colleagues have ingenious ways to test our theories and I’m optimistic this one will give us some interesting answers.”But it’s likely not worth holding your breath over. Reports have been hinting at a winner emerging for nearly a decade, with no such luck. “Reconciling quantum theory with gravity is one of the great challenges of physics. Thus far we’ve been hopelessly unsuccessful,” Oppenheim has previously said.