From Rudi Van Nieuwenhove
According to Michael Brooks, we don’t know what gravity is (13 June, p 28). However, in 1992 I proposed a theory to explain its origin (Europhysics Letters, vol 17, p 1). Gravity is the result of the quantum interaction of matter with the surrounding vacuum, which in turn interacts with the vacuum at different locations.
A refinement of this theory was published in 2007 (Old and New Concepts of Physics, vol 4, p 645). In this theory, no virtual particles are needed, unlike the “gravitons” postulated in other theories. It explains the Pioneer anomaly, flat galaxy rotation curves and why gravity only pulls.
On the question of whether we will ever have a quantum theory of gravity, I can only answer that we have it already. All we need to do is master the calculation of myriads of vacuum-vacuum interactions occurring in parallel. We do not have the mathematical tools or computing power at present to perform this task, but at least we have the general framework.
Brooks asks whether life needs gravity, then goes on to argue that much of the life on Earth does appear to. That is hardly surprising, given that life on Earth has evolved in an environment with gravity. It would be interesting to discuss whether life in general needs gravity to get going and evolve.
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