Why is it so difficult to quantize gravity?

Question

Why is it so difficult to quantize gravity?

In: 3

Answer 1

Basically, because our best theory of gravity (general relativity) is that gravity is really distortions in space-time. So if gravity is quantized, space-time is quantized.

But that causes quantum mechanics to fall apart; quantum mechanics is quantum phenomenon happening with particles & fields on top of *non* quantized space-time.

So we *can* quantize gravity, but then we kill our other best theory (quantum mechanics), which isn’t much of a victory.

We need to figure out solutions for both gravity and quantum mechanics that don’t break each other. This has, so far, proved…elusive.