Quantum Entanglement Proposed as Foundation for Spacetime Geometry

Theoretical physics is exploring the concept of temperature, an emergent property of molecular kinetic motion, as an analogue to understand the origin of spacetime geometry. This high-level inquiry focuses on identifying the fundamental structure from which the universe's observed geometry manifests, with quantum entanglement increasingly positioned as the primary candidate for this foundational ingredient.

This theoretical path is deeply rooted in quantum entanglement, the non-local correlation famously termed "spooky action at a distance" by Albert Einstein. Experimental validation for this phenomenon was robustly confirmed in 1982 through the work of Alain Aspect, demonstrating that measuring one particle instantaneously dictates the state of its entangled partner, regardless of spatial separation. Recent theoretical advancements suggest that these intricate networks of quantum correlations fundamentally underpin the geometry of spacetime itself.

In October 2025, Hong Liu, a theoretical physicist at MIT, published research proposing that within specific models, entanglement functions as the binding force connecting two distinct spatial points. This work indicates a direct correlation between the strength of the quantum connection and the continuity of space, where a deficit in entanglement results in spatial fragmentation. Dr. Liu’s analysis, which incorporates von Neumann algebras, links the geometric structure of spacetime to quantum information theory, a framework also relevant to the AdS/CFT correspondence.

However, the debate surrounding the quantum nature of gravity encountered a complication in late 2025 when Joseph Aziz and Richard Howl published findings in the journal Nature arguing that under specific conditions, even a purely classical theory of gravity could potentially induce quantum entanglement. This result challenges the conventional method of proving gravity is fundamentally quantum by observing gravitationally-induced entanglement, as classical mechanisms might mimic the expected signature. The paper, titled “Classical theories of gravity produce entanglement,” has since prompted counter-arguments from other physicists suggesting their model fails under scrutiny, complicating the direct experimental path to definitive proof regarding gravity's quantum status.

Amidst this theoretical contention, related investigations into spacetime emergence from entanglement continued into 2026. In February 2026, a team led by Hollis Williams presented evidence demonstrating that quantum entanglement can exist and be sustained without any pre-existing spacetime geometry. This strongly suggests that spacetime is not a fundamental container but rather emerges as a direct consequence of these underlying quantum linkages, aligning with the broader perspective that gravity may be an emergent manifestation of quantum information propagation.

Achieving conclusive experimental verification that entanglement constitutes the fabric weaving spacetime would represent a paradigm shift in physics. Concepts of space and time would transition from passive, absolute containers to macroscopic illusions woven from fundamental quantum threads. This intense theoretical work in 2026 is actively reshaping the foundational structure of reality, moving from the classical description of spacetime curvature detailed by Einstein's General Relativity toward a quantum information-theoretic foundation, supported by rigorous mathematical links such as the Ryu-Takayanagi formula within AdS/CFT.