Everything We Know About Gravity Is Wrong: New Study Says It Doesn’t Need Mass
14th Oct 2024
A new study has questioned the long-held concept of dark matter, suggesting that gravity might exist independently of mass. For decades, scientists have used dark matter to explain the invisible mass believed to hold galaxies together. However, this latest theory offers an alternative explanation for the gravitational effects observed in space.
Gravity Without Mass? It Changes Everything
According to the theory of general relativity, galaxies must have a certain amount of mass for gravity to hold them together. Yet, there isn’t enough visible mass in many galaxies to account for the gravitational pull keeping them intact. This led to the hypothesis of dark matter, an invisible substance that exerts gravitational force without interacting with light.
Despite the lack of direct evidence, dark matter has been the go-to explanation for years. However, new research led by Richard Lieu, a physics professor at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, claims that gravity may not require mass after all.
Topological Defects as the Cause
Lieu’s study suggests that the gravitational effects observed in certain galaxies could be the result of “topological defects” rather than dark matter. These defects are compact structures in space containing dense matter and are believed to have formed during the early universe’s phase transitions when matter underwent major physical changes.
The defects, which can take various forms like cosmic strings or shell-like shapes, exert gravitational forces similar to that of dark matter. Lieu theorizes that these shells consist of a thin inner layer of positive mass and a thin outer layer of negative mass. Though the total mass adds up to zero, stars located on these shells still experience gravitational forces toward the center.
The Illusion of Dark Matter
Gravitational bending, a phenomenon where light passes near massive object curves due to spacetime distortion, has been considered indirect evidence of dark matter. However, Lieu’s theory suggests that topological defects may cause this bending rather than dark matter. As light passes through multiple shells, it experiences a slight inward pull, creating an effect that mimics dark matter’s gravitational influence.
While this theory does not entirely disprove dark matter, it offers the first proof that gravity can exist without mass. Lieu admits that it remains unclear what kind of phase transition could give rise to such topological defects, and further study is needed to explore this hypothesis. The study, published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, opens up intriguing possibilities for understanding gravity in the universe.
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