1. Loop Quantum Gravity

2. Quantum Mechanics Study of the very small Matter and energy quantized Discrete packets – “quanta”

3. The Problem Nothing about the structure of matter Nothing about how gravity is generated Global not local Black holes, the big bang

4. Loop Quantum Gravity Attempts to reconciles QM, GR Alternative to string theory Quantum space is granular, 10 -35 meters Spacetime links connecting these chunks

5. Loops Links form braided loops Loops are elementary particles

6. Twists determine charge Each twist 1/3 electron charge Clockwise negative Counter-clockwise positive Electron 3 clockwise twists Positron complement

8. The Universe Turbulent, fluctuates 10 -44 seconds A giant quantum computer The chunks are qubits Qubits preserve braids

9. Space does not exist Space is a web of information Humans are mere tangles No fundamental building blocks Matter emerges as network of relationships Loops not in space, loops are space Requires new quantum theory without background

10. Names Abhay Ashtekar http://cgpg.gravity.psu.eduhttp://cgpg.gravity.psu.edu Lee Smolin http://www.qgravity.org/http://www.qgravity.org/ Carlo Rovelli http://www.cpt.univ-mrs.fr/~rovelli/http://www.cpt.univ-mrs.fr/~rovelli/ Sundance Bilson-Thompson Fotini Markopoulou David Kribs http://www.uoguelph.ca/~dkribs/http://www.uoguelph.ca/~dkribs/