The discovery that gluon binding energy contributes significantly to the mass of baryons is an important insight from quantum chromodynamics (QCD), the theory of the strong nuclear force. While this finding has deepened our understanding of the strong interaction, it does not directly suggest a path toward unifying quantum field theory and general relativity.
Quantum field theory describes the fundamental forces and particles at the quantum level, including the strong nuclear force (described by QCD), electromagnetic force, and weak nuclear force. However, gravity, which is described by general relativity, has proven to be difficult to incorporate into the framework of quantum field theory. This challenge is known as the problem of quantum gravity.
The unification of quantum field theory and general relativity remains an open problem in theoretical physics. Various approaches, such as string theory, loop quantum gravity, and other quantum gravity theories, have been proposed to reconcile these two fundamental frameworks. However, no definitive solution has been established yet.
While the understanding of the gluon binding energy contributing to baryon masses is an important piece of the puzzle within the domain of quantum field theory, it does not directly address the challenges of unifying general relativity with quantum mechanics. Achieving a complete theory of quantum gravity is still an active area of research and continues to be a subject of exploration and theoretical development.