Imagine a landscape composed of microscopic triangular structures that constantly rearrange themselves into new patterns. Seen from afar, the landscape looks perfectly smooth, but up close it is a churning cauldron of strange geometries. This deceptively simple model is at the heart of a new theory called causal dynamical triangulation (CDT), which has emerged as a promising approach to solving the most vexing problem in physics--unifying the laws of gravity with those of quantum mechanics.

For more than 20 years, the leading contender in the quest for unification has been string theory, which posits that the fundamental particles and forces are actually minuscule strings of energy. But some scientists say this theory is misguided because it sets the strings against a fixed background; a better model, they argue, would generate not only particles and forces but also the spacetime they inhabit. In the 1980s and 1990s these researchers developed loop quantum gravity, which describes space as a network of tiny volumes only 10-33 centimeter across. Although this approach has achieved some notable successes, such as predicting the properties of black holes, it has yet to pass an essential test: showing that the jumble of volumes always comes together to form the familiar four-dimensional spacetime of our everyday world.

This article was originally published with the title The Triangular Universe.

5 Comments

1. 1. Rustem 06:19 AM 4/17/08

   :0: A:0G0BL?

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2. 2. Terry K. 02:32 PM 8/16/08

   The String Theory is in fact the System of Octaves. Within this system, all of the Theory's are valid. It seems that everyone was right about their findings (Particle,wave,etc..). Our failure has been communication. Everybody want's to be special, and their findings to be 'The' answer. If we had worked together, we would be light years ahead. As of now, 2008, we have just begun,...what a shamefull race we are!!!
   Terry K.

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3. 3. Terry K. 06:13 PM 8/16/08

   There are aspects that are triangular. Other aspects are of other forms.

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4. 4. Terry K. 03:20 PM 8/18/08

   I would like you to try something....
   Draw a circle, then draw another immediately next to it ,of the same size. At the center point of these, draw a third, Encompass those three with a greater circle. You should have for example, a one inch circle, with three half inch circles within it. Continue this pattern, and you will have the basis for our Solar System. It is also a Triangulation system. If you apply the A.U. values to this system as a scale, you will find all the planets will be at the conjunctions. It's not exact, but there's a reason for that as well. Remember, there is no one absolute. All is a product , such is the cycle.

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5. 5. creator 05:50 PM 12/4/08

   If the universe is in triangular form then could it not be contained within a triangular pyramidical field explaining waveform dynamics and if so could multi universes not excist within these large wave forms travelling within a chain inverted ontop off and joined in circular formation eventually forming a sphere of traingular field in concentrice circles ,inertia being constant as these fields rebound aaway from each other,and is it not pheasable that that the universe was created by disparity of both polar fields positive and negative in that there being more electromagnetic energy in the universe than positronic field ,in short more electrons than protons

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