Physicists from the University of Geneva and the Paul Sabatier University in France have found a slight deviation from Albert Einstein’s predictions for general relativity, which may indicate that gravity operates differently on a universal scale. The study analyzed data from the Dark Energy Survey, mapping the shape of hundreds of millions of galaxies from various points in cosmic history.
According to the researchers, the mass of these galaxies distorts space-time, and their findings reveal a slight deviation between 5-6 million years ago. This change coincides with an acceleration in the rate of expansion of the universe, suggesting that gravity may be operating differently at large scales than predicted by Einstein’s theory.
Einstein’s general relativity explains how mass warps space-time, creating gravitational wells around objects like planets and stars. Light passing through these wells is bent, a phenomenon known as gravitational lensing. While this aspect of general relativity was verified in 1919, the new study challenges the universality of Einstein’s predictions.
The researchers used data from the Dark Energy Survey to directly measure the distortion of time and space, enabling them to compare their findings with Einstein’s predictions. Their analysis of 100 million galaxies from four different points in the universe’s history revealed that the depth of gravitational wells aligns well with Einstein’s predictions in the distant past but is slightly shallower than predicted closer to today.
The study found an incompatibility of 3 sigma between Einstein’s predictions and measurements, indicating that gravity may operate differently at large scales. However, this discrepancy is not large enough to invalidate Einstein’s theory, which requires a threshold of 5 sigma for refutation. The team plans to analyze data from the European Space Agency’s Euclid space telescope to confirm or refute these results.
The findings of this study highlight the importance of continued research into general relativity and its limitations. As the team moves forward with more precise measurements, they may uncover new insights into the nature of gravity and its role in shaping our universe.
Source: https://www.newsweek.com/einstein-general-relativity-gravity-space-time-dark-energy-1984667