The Universe Itself Might Be Withholding the Gravity Particle From Us
From PBS Space Time by PBS
June 5, 2026 · 25 min
About this episode
The episode discusses the challenges of detecting gravitons and the implications for understanding quantum gravity.
Head to https://brilliant.org/Spacetime/ to start learning for free for 30 days. Plus, our viewers get 20% off an annual Premium subscription for unlimited daily access to everything Brilliant has to offer. To progress to the next level in understanding reality, we need to combine quantum mechanics and Einstein’s general relativity. And to do that, most physicists believe we need a theory of quantum gravity .. which means we need gravitons. But it also seems like the laws of physics make it impossible to ever detect this quantum particle of gravity. Almost like the universe is set up to keep the final answer forever out of our reach. So, can we outsmart the universe, catch a graviton, and finally solve physics? Sign Up on Patreon to get access to the Space Time Discord! https://www.patreon.com/pbsspacetime Check out the Space Time Merch Store https://www.pbsspacetime.com/shop Sign up for the mailing list to get episode notifications and hear special announcements! https://mailchi.mp/1a6eb8f2717d/spacetime Search the Entire Space Time Library Here: https://search.pbsspacetime.com/ Hosted by Matt O'Dowd Written by Richard Dyer & Matt O'Dowd Post Production by Leonardo Scholzer…
People in this episode
Host: Matt O'Dowd
Topics covered
- quantum mechanics
- general relativity
- quantum gravity
- gravitons
- laws of physics
- the universe
Keywords
- gravity particle
- graviton
- quantum gravity
- Einstein
- quantum mechanics
- laws of physics
- universe
Sponsors
Brilliant
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: PBS, Kornhaber Brown
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