Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal cover image

Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal

The Theory of Gravity That Shouldn't Exist

Apr 9, 2025
In this insightful discussion, Claudia de Rham, a theoretical physicist at Imperial College London known for her groundbreaking work on massive gravity, returns to explore how gravity might possess mass. She delves into the implications of this idea for our understanding of dark energy and the universe's expansion. Other fascinating topics include the integration of gravity into field theory, the dynamics of dark energy, and contrasting theories in quantum gravity. Prepare for a journey that challenges the very foundations of physics!
02:10:32

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Claudia de Rham discusses the revolutionary idea of massive gravity, challenging the traditional view that gravity cannot possess mass.
  • The episode critically examines the cosmological constant problem and its implications for understanding cosmic acceleration and energy.

Deep dives

Challenging Established Physics

Questioning the tenets of established physics has led to groundbreaking inquiries into the nature of gravity. The episode discusses how the traditional view, particularly shaped by Einstein's general relativity, is being scrutinized, particularly the assumption that gravity cannot have mass. This exploration stems from attempts to explain cosmic phenomena, such as the universe's accelerating expansion. The idea of 'massive gravity' emerges as a promising solution to longstanding problems like the cosmological constant issue, which has perplexed scientists for nearly a century.

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