What exactly is spacetime? How does it shape the phenomena we observe in the cosmos? Maldacena’s lecture promises to tackle these profound questions by bridging the gap between Einstein’s theory of gravity and the microscopic world of quantum mechanics.
While Einstein’s theory successfully predicted black holes and the expansion of the universe, it hit a wall at "singularities"—regions where classical theory breaks down. To understand these extreme environments, physicists need a quantum mechanical description of spacetime.
Maldacena will guide the audience through ideas emerging from the study of black holes, illustrating a fascinating connection between the basic principles of quantum mechanics and the geometry of spacetime itself. Attendees can also expect a deep dive into the theoretical link between wormholes—shortcuts through spacetime—and the phenomenon of quantum entanglement.