Space-time's frothy nature could be blurring the cosmos. If our views of gamma-ray bursts halfway across the universe are intrinsically fuzzy, as some predict, then such observations could help unite the twin pillars of theoretical physics: quantum mechanics and general relativity.
The two theories disagree about the texture of the universe, with relativity saying space-time is smooth and quantum mechanics claiming it is grainy, especially on small scales. Peacemaking "quantum gravity" schemes, like string theory, are notoriously hard to test.
But that hasn't stopped astronomers from trying. Using observations of high-energy light from faraway galaxies, two studies are placing limits on a key prediction of quantum gravity: that space-time should be frothy at close range.
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