The cosmic glitch at the edge of the expanding universe has long puzzled scientists, as gravity appears to weaken by about one percent. While the current understanding of gravity is based on Einstein’s theory of general relativity, which has been extensively verified through experiments and observations, there are still inconsistencies in its predictions when applied to phenomena on a cosmic scale.
For over two decades, physicists and astronomers have sought to develop a mathematical framework that can address these inconsistencies within general relativity. Robin Wen, a graduate student in mathematical physics at the University of Waterloo in Canada, has proposed a new model that offers a potential resolution to the discrepancies observed at cosmic distances without negating the validity of general relativity.
Wen describes this model as an extension of Einstein’s theory that becomes relevant only on large cosmic scales. Nearly a century ago, astronomers discovered that the universe is expanding, leading some to propose that this expansion could be attributed to a weakening of gravity at extreme distances. However, as galaxies move farther away, they appear to accelerate, violating the predictions of general relativity.
Niayesh Afshordi, an astrophysics professor at the University of Waterloo, notes that this model might 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. The researchers introduced the concept of a ‘cosmic glitch’ where gravity behaves unexpectedly on cosmological scales and exhibits a one percent decrease in strength over billions of light years. This new model represents a modification to Einstein’s formulae that becomes relevant only on large cosmic scales.
