For centuries, science has relied on reductionism—the idea that reality is built from the bottom up. However, a massive, unexplained gap separating the particles we know from the ultimate fabric of spacetime is challenging this core principle. This “hierarchy problem” suggests that our universe may be finely tuned in a way that feels unnatural, forcing us to question our most basic assumptions.
What If Reality Isn’t Built from the Bottom Up?
A mysterious 17-order-of-magnitude gap at the foundation of reality challenges our most fundamental scientific principle: that big things are simply the sum of their smaller parts.
Related Posts
Why pineapple leaves are a promising candidate to replace plastic materials used in single-use masks
(Istock) Dwi Umi Siswanti, Universitas Gadjah Mada and Tiara Putri, Universitas Gadjah Mada The COVID-19 pandemic has led…
A decade of science and trillions of collisions show the W boson is more massive than expected – a physicist on the team explains what it means for the Standard Model
Measuring the mass of W bosons took 10 years – and the result was not what physicists expected.…
What Would You See If You Fell Into a Black Hole?
This is all hypothetical, of course, but imagine you’re about to fall into a black hole. What would…
More climate-warming methane leaks into the atmosphere than ever gets reported – here’s how satellites can find the leaks and avoid wasting a valuable resource
Riley Duren, University of Arizona Far more methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is being released from landfills and…