A new view on gravity and the dark side of the cosmos: Erik Verlinde Public Lecture

The 2017/18 season of the Perimeter Institute Public Lecture series kicks off October 4 with cosmologist Erik Verlinde explaining why gravity may be profoundly different than what was proposed by Newton and Einstein.

Are we standing on the brink of a new scientific revolution that will radically change our views on space, time, and gravity?

In most circumstances, the theories of Einstein and Newton adequately describe gravity, but on cosmological scales, big questions arise, particularly surrounding the nature of dark matter and dark energy.

These questions are ushering in a revolution in theoretical physics – a completely new view on spacetime and gravity. Research in string theory and black hole physics, involving key concepts of quantum information theory, reveals a deep connection between the structure of spacetime and the origin of gravity.

This research suggests that gravity is not a fundamental force of nature, but rather an emergent phenomenon, similar to how temperature is an emergent phenomenon that arises from the movement of particles. That is, gravity is a side-effect, not a cause, of what happens in the universe.

In his October 4 public lecture at Perimeter Institute, Erik Verlinde (University of Amsterdam) explored the core ideas behind this research, and examined the implications of this fast-emerging revolution in our understanding of the universe. Watch the full talk above.

About PI

Perimeter Institute is the world’s largest research hub devoted to theoretical physics. The independent Institute was founded in 1999 to foster breakthroughs in the fundamental understanding of our universe, from the smallest particles to the entire cosmos. Research at Perimeter is motivated by the understanding that fundamental science advances human knowledge and catalyzes innovation, and that today’s theoretical physics is tomorrow’s technology. Located in the Region of Waterloo, the not-for-profit Institute is a unique public-private endeavour, including the Governments of Ontario and Canada, that enables cutting-edge research, trains the next generation of scientific pioneers, and shares the power of physics through award-winning educational outreach and public engagement. 

For more information, contact:
Communications & Public Engagement
Media Relations
416-797-9666