Solving one of nature's great puzzles: What drives the accelerating expansion of the universe? | Physical Review

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May 15, 2017 (Phys.org) -- Physicists may have solved one of nature's great puzzles: what causes the accelerating expansion of our universe?

University of British Columbia PhD student Qingdi Wang has tackled this question in a new study that tries to resolve a major incompatibility issue between two of the most successful theories that explain how our universe works: quantum mechanics and Einstein's theory of general relativity.

The study suggests that if we zoomed in -- way in -- on the universe, we would realize it's made up of constantly fluctuating space and time.

"Space-time is not as static as it appears, it's constantly moving," said Wang.

"This is a new idea in a field where there hasn't been a lot of new ideas that try to address this issue," said Bill Unruh, a physics and astronomy professor who supervised Wang's work.