Revolution in Physics: New Approach to Unify Theories!

Revolution in Physics: New Approach to Unify Theories!

On March 8, 2025 it was announced that Dr. Wolfgang Wieland, physicist at the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU), has received significant funding from the German Research Foundation as part of the Heisenberg program. The aim of his project is to develop a novel approach to combining quantum and relativity theory in specific problem areas. The current findings were published in the renowned journal “Classical and Quantum Gravity” and are generating great interest in the scientific community.

Researchers are faced with a fundamental challenge: the four fundamental forces of the universe – gravity, electromagnetic interaction, weak interaction and strong interaction – cannot yet be explained by a unified theory. While general relativity acts as the fundamental model for gravity, quantum theory deals with the other three fundamental forces. The problem that the two theories are incompatible has been known since the 1930s, which underlines the urgency of a solution.

The need for unification

General relativity is used to calculate the behavior of large masses, while quantum theory describes the smallest particles. A unified model is needed to understand phenomena such as the Big Bang and black holes. In black holes, where matter is gathered at one point according to relativity theory, a new understanding of gravity becomes necessary.

It is believed that quantum gravity could change the concepts of causality and time under extreme conditions. In the critical environment of black holes, the terms “before” and “after” lose their meaning. Decades of research have led to the development of concepts that seek to unify these theories. Wieland's approach embraces the idea that space and time are not continuous, but are made up of small portions.

Wieland's innovative approaches

His concept envisages a quantized space-time in which there are fixed steps for movements and time progressions. The Planck units play a crucial role in this, especially the Planck power, which represents a calculable upper limit for the power in the universe. Previous considerations suggest that the power could become infinitely large, making partial mathematical equations unsolvable. However, Wieland's research shows that there is an upper bound on power in a quantized spacetime, specifically the Planck power of 10^53 watts.

If Wieland's theories are valid, it could mean that the power of gravitational waves can also be broken down into quanta. In addition, the Heisenberg Project studies how gravity influences the causal structure of the world.

Quantum gravity, which as a theory aims to unify quantum mechanics with general relativity, is an active field of research. It is a declared goal that a unified theory avoids formally infinite terms and thus makes extreme cases such as the Big Bang or black holes calculable. Various theories such as string theory and loop quantum gravity are already being developed in this context.[ Wikipedia ] While gravity is considered the weakest of the elementary forces, it has far-reaching effects in the universe.

Wieland's advances could be groundbreaking in understanding the fundamental structures of the universe, which is still shrouded in many mysteries. The quantum gravity approach can shed new light on many physical questions. Physicists hope that in the future a coherent theory will emerge that unifies all known forces and unlocks the secrets of the cosmos.