I will present a series of new results on classical and quantum properties of maximal supergravity in 4 dimensions, emphasizing the role of the recently discovered "new SO(8) theories". I will explain how this changes our understanding of some general properties of supergravity theories and comment on the impact of these results on the gauge/gravity correspondence.

I will present a series of new results on classical and quantum properties of maximal supergravity in 4 dimensions, emphasizing the role of the recently discovered "new SO(8) theories". I will explain how this changes our understanding of some general properties of supergravity theories and comment on the impact of these results on the gauge/gravity correspondence.

I will discuss some features of string theory flux vacua that have not been explored before. Inspired by the analogy with the 4-dimensional black-hole solutions, I will show that the moduli fixing by fluxes can be described by an attractor mechanism. The discussion will be mainly focussed on non-Kaeheler attracting manifolds. I will then describe the general features of the domain-wall solutions interpolating between different vacua, explaining the vacua resolution by tunnelling and the (meta)stability properties of de Sitter uplifts.