We know from general relativity that mass curve spacetime. One step further of unification would be that mass is curved spacetime. Is this a possiblity? And if not, why?
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The idea that matter might just be curved spacetime dates back to well before general relativity. As far as I know Bernard Riemann was the first person to suggest that the geometry of space (not spacetime - this was before Einstein) might be curved, and William Clifford (of Clifford algebra fame) seized on the idea that all physical phenomena, including matter, might be a result of curvature in space.
The problem is that neither Clifford nor anyone since has ever found a way to make the idea work. The idea resurfaces sporadically then dies away again. If you're interested there is a nice review of the area in Matter from Space by Domenico Giulini, though this is somewhat technical.
John Rennie
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According to Kip Thorne, black holes are just curved spacetime. There's no matter inside a black hole.
Doradus
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