The project "A Machian Framework for Quantum Physics" poses bold questions about the foundations of quantum theory. It explores how space, time, and matter might emerge from a deeper structure of relations between objects. Inspired by the ideas of philosopher Gottfried Leibniz and physicist Ernst Mach, it challenges the traditional belief that space and time are necessary to describe the physical world. Instead, it suggests that reality may consist solely of relations—without any “stage” on which the objects exist. The research draws on a theoretical framework known as Pure Shape Dynamics, which offers a completely new perspective on quantum mechanics and gravity.

“What if the structure of reality is not woven from space and time, but from a network of relations between things? The research aims to uncover a hidden structure underlying our deepest physical theories,” explains Prof. Vassallo.

The outcome of the project will be the development of a new theoretical framework that could shed light on some of the greatest puzzles in physics: why quantum mechanics appears so strange, and how spacetime itself might emerge from more fundamental principles. Although the results will be primarily theoretical, in the long term they may influence the development of quantum technologies, precision measurement methods, and our understanding of the universe—contributing to fields such as quantum computing, high-precision metrology, and theoretical cosmology.

The inspiration for the project was a fundamental question: why is quantum physics so counterintuitive compared to our everyday experience? The researcher from the Faculty of Administration and Social Sciences notes that current theories simply assume the quantum world is the way it is, without explaining where its properties come from.

Work is currently underway on formulating the basic assumptions and initial theoretical models. The next stage of the research will involve an attempt to integrate knowledge from both physics and philosophy.

“Quantum physics puts our intuition to the test—but what if the real mystery lies not in the quantum world itself, but in our understanding of space and time?” adds Prof. Vassallo. “This project is about rethinking the very stage on which physics unfolds.”