\u201cThink of Einstein raised to the second power,\u201d Jerome Quintin<\/a>, the study\u2019s co-author and a theoretical cosmologist, told Gizmodo. The new work \u201ctakes formal calculations from quantum field theory and creates a bridge between them and actual cosmological scenarios and observations, which allows us to test these formal, theoretical ideas and calculations.\u201d<\/p>\n The universe\u2019s early days <\/p>\n The Big Bang refers to that gigantic explosion responsible for setting up the universe to grow into the world we observe today. In the \u201cstandard\u201d picture, the universe starts small, hot, dense, and generally homogenous and isotropic, explained Ruolin Liu<\/a>, the study\u2019s lead author and a postdoctoral student, to Gizmodo.<\/p>\n A popular explanation for this phenomenon is called the inflationary scenario, which postulates that the hypothetical inflaton particle drove a \u201cburst of rapid, accelerated expansion\u201d in the earliest days of the universe, Liu said. But this theory breaks down the earlier we go in astronomical time, which corresponds to higher energies in the universe, he added.<\/p>\n Finding a quantum solution <\/p>\n The team wondered if there was a way to explain the Big Bang without tacking on too many new variables. And if quantum effects could somehow enter the equation, that would be even better. They decided on quadratic gravity<\/a>, which remains mathematically consistent at very high energy levels like that of the Big Bang, according to the paper.<\/p>\n Fascinatingly, the team\u2019s calculations revealed that the quadratic terms of the model organically triggered cosmic expansion, after which the spacetime structure fell into the known effects of general relativity. What\u2019s more, Liu added, the study\u2019s mathematical predictions fit nicely with observations of the universe made by the latest technologies, which have been \u201cin conflict<\/a> with more mainstream models of inflation.\u201d<\/p>\n A testable hypothesis <\/p>\n Most importantly, the team believes its theory is completely testable\u2014which isn\u2019t usually the case for models on quantum gravity. The model predicts a minimum level of gravitational waves generated during inflation, which next-generation detectors will be able to catch.<\/p>\n Niayesh Afshordi<\/a>, the study\u2019s senior author and a physicist, told Gizmodo that quantum gravity is often conveyed as something \u201cpurely theoretical,\u201d but the new work \u201cshows that quantum gravity can absolutely be studied and bridged to concrete cosmological scenarios, which come with specific predictions that we can test now and in the future as well.\u201d<\/p>\n Awaiting the revolution, sort of <\/p>\n Certainly, if the team\u2019s results can be validated\u2014both theoretically and empirically\u2014the implications will be nothing short of revolutionary. But as is the case with any prediction, there\u2019s not much to say conclusively until the new proposal weathers independent review and experimentation.<\/p>\n That said, it\u2019s also true that we\u2019re living in a particularly great time for cosmology. For example, LISA, the next-generation detector that could do what the team is looking for, is slated to launch as early as 2035<\/a>. NASA\u2019s Nancy Grace Roman Telescope, after weathering a budgetary storm, will launch as planned<\/a>. And the young Vera C. Rubin Observatory is bombarding astronomers with hundreds of thousands of observations<\/a>.<\/p>\n So even if the latest proposal doesn\u2019t end up being \u201cthe one,\u201d we might be entering an era that allows us to drag out the hypothetical into the realm of testable ideas. And that\u2019s exciting!<\/p>\n![\"Cosmic](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/cosmic-inflation-diagram-1280x874.jpg\")
A representation of the evolution of the universe over 13.77 billion years. Credit: NASA\/WMAP Science Team <\/p>\n