causal set theory

Causal set theory is an approach to understanding spacetime in physics, proposing that the universe's fabric is made up of discrete, fundamental elements called "events" connected by causal relationships—that is, which events influence or can affect others. Instead of viewing spacetime as a smooth continuum, it suggests it’s like a vast, interconnected network of these small units, with the structure encoding both the order of events and their separation. This idea aims to unify quantum mechanics and gravity by building spacetime from fundamentally simple components, offering a possible way to describe the universe at its most basic level.