In a recent discovery that could reshape our understanding of the universe, researchers from the University of Waterloo and the University of British Columbiain Canada, have proposed a new theory that suggests the existence of a “cosmic glitch” in gravity, which could explain anomalous behavior on the cosmic scale of the universe.
This finding, published in the Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physicsindicates that the general theory of relativity of Albert Einsteina pillar of modern physics, may not be enough to explain certain inconsistencies observed at galactic and larger scales.
Robin Wengraduated in Mathematical Physics by waterloo and lead author of the study, noted: “This gravity model has been essential for everything from theorizing the big Bang even photograph black holes”. However, when studying gravity on a cosmic scale, at distances of billions of light years, “it seems as if gravity no longer coincides perfectly with the theory of Einstein”.
The general relativity theory, which suggests that gravity impacts not only three physical dimensions, but also a fourth dimension (time), has been confirmed by countless tests and observations over the years. But this new study suggests that there is an inconsistency, a “cosmic failure”where gravity weakens by about 1% when dealing with distances on the scales of billions of light years.
Niayesh Afshordiprofessor of astrophysics at the University of Waterloo and researcher in Perimeter InstituteHe added: “Almost a century ago, astronomers discovered that our universe is expanding. The most distant galaxies move faster, to the point of appearing to move almost at the speed of light, the maximum allowed by Einstein’s theory.
“Our finding suggests that, on those same scales, Einstein’s theory could also be insufficient,” he said.
The team has developed a new model that modifies and extends the mathematical formulas of Einstein so that it resolves the inconsistency in some of the cosmological measurements without affecting the successful uses of general relativity. “You can think of it as a footnote to Einstein’s theory. Once you reach a cosmic scale, terms and conditions apply,” Wen explained.
This model could be the beginning of a solution to a cosmic puzzle that astronomers and physicists have been trying to solve for decades. “This new model could be the first clue to a cosmic puzzle that we are beginning to solve across space and time,” Afshordi said.
The efforts of more than twenty years in the University of Waterlooknown for its cutting-edge research in gravity thanks to interdisciplinary collaboration between applied mathematicians and astrophysicists, have been key in the formulation of this new model.
This discovery not only raises fundamental questions about the validity of current physical theories on ultramassive scales, but also opens the door to future research that could reveal more details about the true nature of our universe. The proposed “cosmic glitch” is a reminder that, despite advances in science, there are still fundamental mysteries that lie beyond our current understanding.
