Every scientific fact was born as an opinion about the unknown - a hypothesis. Opinion gradually becomes fact as evidence piles up to support a theory. But what if there are two theories, each of which has produced a myriad of things that correspond perfectly to the phenomena but can't be combined into one? One theory replaced the mystery of gravity with a precise model of space and time. The other theory replaced the mystery of matter with a description of quantum particles. As we understand our universe, we keep each in its own domain: space and time for very large things, particles for the very small ones. However, 13.8 billion years ago, those two incompatible domains belonged to a single realm. Who in the current or future generations of physicists will crack this seemingly impossible puzzle? This, contends the author, is not just a big question, but the biggest question in physics in our century. Combining Ickes's first-hand knowledge with a robust argument and intellectual playfulness, this fascinating book succeeds in making a notoriously difficult subject accessible to all readers interested in a better grasp of our universe.Watch the Book Trailer

ContentsForeword 3The Process of Measurement 4The Process of Progress 8Laws Ain't 11Motion 17Huygens's Relativity 20Acceleration 25Gravity 28Absoluteness Theory 31Gravity Does Not Exist 35Reflections 41Feynman's Web 47A Twist to the Tale 52Question for the 21st Century 59Small Steps, Ellie 68