Our research explores how spacetime, locality, and causality arise—or break down—when quantum theory meets gravity. We don’t take spacetime as a given, but instead ask what may replace it, and how this familiar structure might emerge from something more fundamental.
We work at the boundary between physics and philosophy, combining tools from quantum field theory, quantum information, and algebraic methods with foundational and conceptual analysis. Much of our research is grounded in concrete questions about observables, subsystems, and causal structure in gravitational settings.
In gravity, observables are relational and inherently nonlocal. This raises fundamental questions about what counts as a “subsystem.” We’re developing new ways of thinking about locality and independence using the formalism of operator algebras and gauge-invariant observables. This work has implications for quantum gravity, quantum information, and foundational physics.
Classical notions of causality rely on spacetime structure—but what happens when that structure becomes dynamical or emergent? We're examining the status of microcausality in gravitational systems, and how to formulate consistent notions of information flow, influence, and non-signaling when spacetime itself is part of the problem.
We explore how classical spacetime might emerge from more primitive structures—entanglement patterns, symmetry constraints, or algebraic relations. Rather than committing to one framework, we critically examine the assumptions behind different reconstruction approaches and ask what kind of empirical content they can actually support.
We take foundational questions seriously—not as philosophical extras, but as integral to progress in physics. Our work often engages with interpretational issues in quantum theory, the meaning of observables, and the conceptual architecture of our best physical models. Dialogue between physics and philosophy is part of our method.
Our projects are co-authored, but also co-initiated—emerging through discussion, shared reading, and retreat-based brainstorming. We maintain a decentralized approach to leadership, letting initiative shift as needed over time. Different members contribute in different ways, and we embrace the fact that participation isn’t uniform or linear.
We also host events to expand the conversation. Our upcoming workshop on Spacetime Emergence (November 2025, Nordita) will bring together physicists and philosophers to explore new ideas at this frontier. Details will be announced soon.
