New Delhi: A new model has been developed that could provide an explanation for the ‘cosmic glitch’ that occurs at the edge of the expanding universe, where gravity appears to weaken by about one percent. The current understanding of gravity is based on Einstein’s theory of general relativity, which has been extensively verified by experiments and observations. This theory has been instrumental in various achievements in astrophysics, from understanding the Big Bang to taking pictures of black holes.
However, when scientists try to apply general relativity to phenomena on a cosmic scale, they encounter inconsistencies in its predictions. These challenges were highlighted by Robin Wen, a graduate student in mathematical physics at the University of Waterloo in Canada, who notes that nearly a century ago, astronomers discovered that the universe was expanding, leading some to suggest that this expansion could be attributed to the weakening of gravity at extreme distances.
Niayesh Afshordi, a professor of astrophysics at the University of Waterloo, introduced the concept of a ‘cosmic glitch’, where gravity behaves unexpectedly on cosmological scales, showing a decrease in strength of one percent over billions of light years. For more than two decades, physicists and astronomers have sought to develop a mathematical framework that can resolve these inconsistencies within general relativity.
Wen describes their new model as an extension of Einstein’s theory that offers a potential solution to the discrepancies observed at cosmic distances without denying the validity of general relativity. The model represents a modification of Einstein’s formulas that becomes relevant only on large cosmic scales. Afshordi suggests that this model could provide the first step in unraveling a cosmic puzzle that spans space and time, shedding light on the fundamental nature of gravity in the universe.