Among the weightiest problems in physics today is the matter of gravity. One of the four fundamental forces of nature alongside the weak, strong and electromagnetic forces, gravity alone has no quantum explanation, making it a missing link in the quest for a “Theory of Everything” — a coherent description of the universe that unifies both classical and quantum physics.
Which is all the more reason advancement in the direction of this ultimate theory is cause for celebration. And that is certainly the case for UC Santa Barbara physics professor Gary Horowitz, who is the recipient of the 2023 Einstein Prize from the American Physical Society. Awarded by the organization in recognition of “outstanding accomplishments in the field of gravitational physics,” the Einstein Prize was given to Horowitz for “fundamental contributions to classical gravity and gravitational aspects of string theory.”