Does this new theory finally unify electromagnetism and gravity? ⚡

For a long time, scientists have been searching for a single theory that connects all the forces of nature. A new geometric approach revives this idea.

Einstein already wanted to unify gravity and electricity into a single theory. Other researchers, like Hermann Weyl, attempted to follow this path. But these attempts were never entirely convincing.


A new theory proposes viewing electricity as a property of spacetime itself. According to this idea, electric and magnetic fields would be integrated into the structure of spacetime. This vision builds on the work of John Wheeler.

The researchers used mathematical tools to modify Maxwell's equations, which describe electromagnetic fields. They obtained a more general version of these equations, directly linked to the geometry of spacetime. These results were published in the Journal of Physics: Conference Series.

The geometry used here is Weyl's. It is more flexible than Einstein's. It allows interpreting electric charge as a local deformation of spacetime. This opens a new way to understand electric currents.

This theory has important consequences. It suggests that light and electromagnetic waves are vibrations of spacetime. It also predicts very rapid variations in the electromagnetic field at the smallest known scale, called the Planck scale.

This theoretical framework could thus bring the different forces of nature even closer together in a single description. Much work remains to test and refine these ideas.

What is Weyl geometry?

This geometry is an extended version of the geometry used by Einstein. It allows the notion of distance to change locally in spacetime.

This makes it useful for including electric and magnetic fields in a geometric description. Unlike classical geometry, it permits local scale variations, which is essential for representing an electric charge.

Weyl geometry thus provides a powerful framework for studying fundamental interactions.

How are Maxwell's equations generalized?

Classically, Maxwell's equations are simple and linear. In this new approach, they become more complex, directly linked to the shape of spacetime.

This generalization keeps the old equations as a special case. It allows describing richer and more varied situations.

This shows that, in theory, electromagnetism can be explained solely from the geometry of spacetime—just as Einstein had done for gravity.