Relativity Albert Einstein's theory of relativity has caused major revolutions in physics and astronomy during the 20th century. It introduced to science the concept of "relativity"--the notion that there is no absolute motion in the universe, only relative motion--thus superseding the 200-year-old theory of mechanics of Isaac Newton. Einstein showed that we reside not in the flat, Euclidean space and uniform, absolute time of everyday experience, but in another environment: curved space-time. The theory …showed first 75 words of 3214 total…

…showed last 75 words of 3214 total…by dynamic sources such as supernovae, massive binary (or multiple-star) systems, and black holes or collisions between black holes. Various attempts, unsuccessful thus far, have been made to observe such waves. A more fundamental matter confronting general relativity is that of the attempt being made by physicists to unite gravitation with QUANTUM MECHANICS, the other paradigm of modern physics. This search for some UNIFIED FIELD THEORY is the major task of workers in QUANTUM COSMOLOGY.