Yet, a lingering mystery remains at the heart of modern physics: why can we successfully quantize matter and radiation fields, but fail to do so for the metric tensor field of gravity? Attempts to integrate gravity with quantum mechanics—whether through string theory, loop quantum gravity, or other approaches—have yet to produce a fully consistent theory of everything. A growing number of physicists suspect that spacetime itself is not fundamental, but rather an emergent phenomenon arising from a deeper, yet undiscovered, structure of reality.
Amplituhedron: A Glimpse Beyond Spacetime
One of the most striking recent discoveries pointing toward this paradigm shift is the amplituhedron, a higher-dimensional geometric object that encodes the probabilities of particle interactions without relying on traditional spacetime-based calculations. Introduced by Nima Arkani-Hamed and Jaroslav Trnka, the amplituhedron belongs to a class of positive geometries that allow quantum mechanical outcomes to be determined by the shape and volume of abstract mathematical structures rather than by stepwise computations using Feynman diagrams.
The amplituhedron suggests that spacetime locality and unitarity emerge from deeper geometric principles rather than being fundamental features of reality. It bypasses the need for virtual particles and perturbative methods, instead presenting a radically different approach in which quantum interactions are encoded in the shape of this multidimensional object. If spacetime is not fundamental, and instead emerges from an underlying geometric or algebraic structure, then our failure to quantize gravity might not be a failure at all—it could be a sign that we are trying to quantize something that does not truly exist at the most fundamental level.
The Search for Fundamental Cosmic Order
If spacetime is emergent, then what lies beneath it? In the Indo-Iranic tradition, the concept of Arta or Rta refers to the fundamental cosmic order, an intrinsic truth governing all existence. As discussed on page 99 of Planetary Foresight and Ethics, ancient philosophies envisioned this as the organizing principle underlying reality, much like the laws of physics aim to uncover today. Could it be that modern physics is converging on an ancient intuition—that the fabric of reality is not spacetime itself, but a deeper principle, a mathematical or geometric order from which all observed phenomena arise?
The amplituhedron offers a striking resemblance to such a concept. It replaces the traditional view of space, time, and force-carrying particles with an abstract, high-dimensional structure whose shape dictates reality. In doing so, it hints at a unifying principle—a deeper mathematical order that could explain not only quantum mechanics but also the origins of spacetime itself.
Beyond Spacetime: Toward a New Paradigm
If the amplituhedron and similar discoveries are correct, we are on the verge of a paradigm shift in physics. The quest for a unified theory may not involve forcing gravity into the framework of quantum mechanics, but rather redefining the very nature of existence. The future of physics may lie in understanding how space, time, and fields emerge from an even more fundamental structure—a structure that may echo ancient notions of cosmic order.
As we move forward, it is crucial to blend scientific foresight with the deep insights of past traditions, exploring how they intersect in their pursuit of truth. The future of physics is not merely about new equations, but about redefining our entire conceptual framework for understanding reality. Perhaps, in the end, the true nature of the cosmos is not written in particles or fields, but in the symmetries and geometries that shape all that exists.
