it is a very big deal but not for Stafford's nonsense. The key comment is:
"We provide a mechanism by which, from a background independent model with no quantum
mechanics, quantum theory arises in the same limit in which spatial properties appear."

The background idependent model is LQG and its discrete, fully relational spacetime was derived from Einstein's equations of general relativity [Stafford's nonsense doesn't derive general relativity or a discrete fully relational spacetime]. In other words [if this pans out {survives}] the link between quantum theory and general relativity is LQG. I havn't read the paper yet but I wonder if this could be a link between 'strings' and LQG?

• My question to bruce about relative and absolute time - carefuluniverse - November 20, 2003 - 06:59 UTC