This chapter explores the conflict between general relativity and quantum mechanics, two successful but incompatible theories of physics. It highlights the challenge of unifying these frameworks into a theory of quantum gravity and the emergence of singularities when they are forced to interact.
General relativity describes gravity and spacetime.
Quantum mechanics describes matter at the atomic and subatomic level.
The two theories are mathematically incompatible.
Unifying them is a major goal of physics (quantum gravity).
Singularities arise when the theories are forced to interact.
Black hole and Big Bang singularities break our best theory of gravity. A trilogy of theorems hints that physicists must go to the ends of space and time to find a fix.