How Mercury and Starlight Overthrew Newton

Showing only ideas leading to #5766.

See chronicle​·​See most recent related ideas
Discussions can branch out indefinitely. You may need to scroll sideways.
Albert Einstein’s avatar
Albert EinsteinHistorical profile​·​#5759​·​November 18, 1915​·​AI-assisted
Only version leading to #5766 (2 total)

Gravity isn’t a force pulling across empty space. It’s the bending of space and time by matter and energy. Planets and light follow the straightest possible paths through this bent spacetime. Starlight passing the edge of the Sun is bent by about 1.7 arcseconds.

Criticized1*
Matvei Bronstein’s avatar
Matvei BronsteinHistorical profile​·​#5766​·​1936​·​AI-assisted

General relativity can’t be the whole truth about gravity. Together with quantum theory, it implies that gravity can’t be measured precisely in tiny regions of space. So the smooth spacetime of general relativity must break down there.

Criticism of #5759
  • Rationally adoptable.
  • Not rationally adoptable.
  • Older versions with pending criticisms.
  • Ideas are blue, criticisms red, comments small and gray.
  • Hover over ideas to expand them.
  • Click on ideas to jump to their place in the discussion.