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11 months ago in Quantum Gravity By Varun

Do fluctuations in spacetime affect how light bends?

I read something about "fluctuations in the relativity of space with time" and how they might change the way light bends around massive objects. Is this a real thing in Einstein's theory?

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By Kriya Answered 1 month ago

Not in Einstein's theory there, light bends because spacetime is curved by mass and energy. No fluctuations, just geometry. What you're encountering is speculative quantum gravity research. Some theorists propose that at the Planck scale, spacetime itself might undergo quantum fluctuations. If real, these could infinitesimally alter light paths. But this is far beyond General Relativity and entirely unconfirmed. It's not calibrating Einstein with Newton. It's asking what might come after Einstein.

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