Our Galaxy’s Supermassive Black Hole May Reveal the Universe’s Hidden Fifth Force – Futurism

In BriefPhysicists have developed a method that could potentially spota previously hidden force in the universe. If proven to exists,this fifth force could change how we model physics itself. Redefining Physics

For the most part, we seem to have our universe figured out: there are four fundamental forces that govern the interactions of every conceivable object, from atoms to planets. These four the weak and strong nuclear forces, electromagnetic force, and gravity explain all there is. Except they dont, really.

As much as weve understood these forces, there are still phenomena that the standard model of physics and Einsteins theory of general relativity dont quite make explain. For instance, theres more gravity in space than what all visible matter can supposedly produce. Thats why some suggest undiscovered dark matteras the source of this, or as other physicists suggests, that a hidden fifth force is out there. One such physicist isAndrea Ghez, director at the University of California, Los Angeles, Galactic Center Group.

The key to detecting this fifth force, according to Ghez and her team, is studying the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way and the stars around it. By watching the stars move over 20 years using very precise measurements taken from Keck Observatory data, you can see and put constraints on how gravity works, she explained in a press release. If gravitation is driven by something other than Einsteins theory of General Relativity, youll see small variations in the orbital paths of the stars. They published their method in the journal Physical Review Letters.

This research could go a long way to answering questions that have risen since Einstein published his theories, Ghez said.

Einsteins theory describes [gravity] beautifully well, but theres lots of evidence showing the theory has holes, Ghez said in her interview for the press release. The mere existence of supermassive black holes tells us that our current theories of how the Universe works are inadequate to explain what a black hole is.

In particular, the team is excited to observe a star called S0-2 as it passes closer than ever to the Milky Ways supermassive black hole next year. If the orbital path of these stars show deviations from what general relativity predicts, then the researchers might discoverclues about the supposed fifth force.

If a fifth force does exist and Ghezs method discovers it, wed probably need to reexamine the physics of our Universe. This is really exciting. Its taken us 20 years to get here, but now our work on studying stars at the center of our galaxy is opening up a new method of looking at how gravity works, Ghez said in the interview.

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Our Galaxy's Supermassive Black Hole May Reveal the Universe's Hidden Fifth Force - Futurism