2024-05-07 04:00:13
Since its formulation in 1915, Albert Einstein’s general relativity, which describes gravity as an effect of the curvature of space-time, has largely been validated by experiments. This theory has successfully predicted phenomena such as black holes and gravitational waves.
Right: A simulation of a black hole created using general relativity.
Credit: EHT Collaboration
However, researchers at the University of Waterloo suggest that on cosmic scales, involving distances of billions of light years, this theory could have gaps. They describe this phenomenon as a “cosmic glitch”, an anomaly where the force of gravity turns out to be about 1% lower than predicted by theory. This observation opens the way to a possible revision of the theory to include these observations. Scientists propose adjusting the standard cosmological model, in particular by modifying the gravitational constant, to resolve these inconsistencies without calling into question the successes of general relativity in other fields. This approach suggests an extension of the theory, without overturning it.
This need for revision is not unprecedented. Einstein himself had to modify his theory shortly after its first formulation, adding the so-called “cosmological constant“to predict a Universe static, a popular hypothesis at the time. After being removed, this constant was re-evaluated and later reintroduced to explain the accelerated expansion of the Universe, discovered at the end of the 20th century.
Future observations of the large-scale structure of the Universe and cosmic microwave background could confirm this “cosmic glitch” theory. This advance represents a significant step in our understanding of the Universe, perhaps indicating that even in the most fundamental areas of physiqueadjustments remain necessary to harmonize theory and observation.
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