Conformal gravity

Imagine a big trampoline where you can play and jump around. Now, if you put a really heavy ball in the middle of the trampoline, it will create a big dent in the fabric. This dent represents how massive objects can warp, or bend, the fabric of space-time.

Now, conformal gravity is a theory that tries to explain how gravity behaves in such a warped space-time. It suggests that the laws of gravity can be modified so that they take into account not just the mass of an object but also its shape, which is related to how stretched or squished it is.

Think of it like this: If a ball is really flat, it won't create as much of a dent in the trampoline as a ball that is very round. Similarly, if a massive object has a different shape, it will affect the fabric of space-time in different ways.

Conformal gravity tries to incorporate this idea into its calculations, so that it can provide a more complete picture of gravity. By taking into account not just mass, but also shape, it can help scientists understand how gravity behaves in the most extreme conditions, such as near black holes or during the earliest moments of the universe.