Einstein’s “biggest blunder” may finally have an explanation
Physicists at Brown University have proposed a new explanation for the discrepancy between the predicted and observed values of the cosmological constant. By applying topological concepts from the quantum Hall effect to quantum gravity, they suggest a mathematical reason for the constant's small size.
Why it matters
Resolving the conflict between quantum field theory and general relativity is a fundamental goal in modern physics.
One of the biggest unsolved problems in physics centers on a number known as the cosmological constant. This value describes the energy responsible for the universe's accelerating expansion. It also sits at the heart of a major conflict between two of science's most successful theories.
The article is a technical summary of theoretical physics research.
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