Physics

Professor Offers Controversial Theory of Gravity

MAR 11 2024·Updated MAR 14 2024

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The Facts

University College London Prof. Jonathan Oppenheim has released a new theory of gravity called "postquantum theory of classical gravity," which suggests that space-time is smooth and continuous but also wobbly.
guardian
In the summary section of his paper, Oppenheim questions the possibility of Albert Einstein's general relativity theory, which posits that matter shapes space-time via quantum physics.
Physical Review X
The current scientific consensus is that dark matter — an unseen form of matter that is believed to make up 85% of the mass in the universe — is what exerts a gravitational pull to keep the vast amount of stars on the outer edges of galaxies in orbit.
guardian
Instead of dark matter, Oppenheim, alongside Ph.D. candidate Andrea Russo, claims that random fluctuations in spacetime are what keep these stars in orbit. This, they say, could explain phenomena such as rotating galaxies — observations that originally sparked the theory of dark matter.
guardian
Oppenheim argues that his theory could also help explain phenomena such as black holes, which he says comes from the "inherent stochastic and unpredictable nature of space-time curvature."
Physical Review X
Oppenheim's theory has not been accepted by everyone, however. Professors Carlo Rovelli and Geoff Penington have signed a 5,000:1 bet with Oppenheim that his theory will prove incorrect.
guardian

Sources Split

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The Spin

Narrative A

While this theory still needs more research and scrutiny, the "dark matter consensus" should be called into question. It certainly is plausible that as you go further out to the edges of a galaxy and lose the gravitational pull of stars, the movements of the universe itself likely take over as the cause of orbits.

arXiv

Narrative B

Dark matter is the current scientific consensus because researchers have actually found evidence of it. If the laws of physics are to be followed, galaxies that are orbiting faster than the amount of visible matter contained in them must have a sort of invisible matter doing the work behind the scenes. There is a solid basis to believe that dark matter permeates the universe around us.