General Relativity: The Pillar of Understanding

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General relativity emerges as the only consistent theoretical framework when certain assumptions about coupling and symmetry are applied, highlighting its foundational role in modern physics. Rather than being a derivative of previous theories, general relativity can be constructed from fundamental principles. The theory not only defines the behavior of massless particles and the evolution of space-time, but it also establishes the speed of light as a critical limit determined by inherent symmetries. This perspective shifts the view of general relativity from a merely beautiful construct to a necessary and logical conclusion in the quest for understanding the universe.

Einstein's theory of general relativity has been our best understanding of gravity for over a century, withstanding a variety of experimental challenges of ever-increasing precision. But we have to be open to the possibility that general relativity -- even at the classical level, aside from any questions of quantum gravity -- isn't the right theory of gravity. Such speculation is motivated by cosmology, where we have a good model of the universe but one with a number of loose ends. Claudia de Rham has been a leader in exploring how gravity could be modified in cosmologically interesting ways, and we discuss the current state of the art as well as future prospects.

Blog post with transcript: https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/04/01/271-claudia-de-rham-on-modifying-general-relativity/

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Claudia de Rham received her Ph.D. in physics from the University of Cambridge. She is currently a professor of physics and deputy department head at Imperial College, London. She is a Simons Foundation Investigator, winner of the Blavatnik Award, and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Her new book is The Beauty of Falling: A Life in Pursuit of Gravity.

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