Causal Sets, Discrete Gravity

Quantum gravity is the name of a problem, not a theory. The problem is that we do not have a unified framework for fundamental physics in which both gravity and quantum theory are incorporated. Causal Set Theory is an approach to the problem based on the hypothesis that spacetime is fundamentally discrete or atomic. I will explain the motivation behind this approach and map out some of the frontiers of current research in the area. I will describe how causal set theory has already had one empirical success and suggest that more may be coming as the standard cosmological model (Lambda- Cold-Dark-Matter) comes under pressure from more data.