According to the current Standard model, Four fundamental forces They support known physics: gravity, electromagnetism and weak and strong nuclear forces. These govern the interaction of all objects and particles throughout the universe, so they are essential to understand the structure and behavior of the cosmos.
Everything in our world consists of atoms, which, in turn, are composed of even smaller particles that interact with each other and create the forces. This model predicts its behavior and has done it perfectly, without any error, for 50 years. But, the search for a Fifth force could revolutionize our understanding of science.
From the decade of 1980the scientific community wonders if there could be a fifth fundamental force, which would help explain some observational anomalies and phenomena not yet understood in the field of physics. And since then, many studies have dared to affirm their discovery.
In 1986, for example, scientists from the Massachusetts Institute (MIT) suggested that the anti -rave It could be a fifth force, and in 2000, another group introduced the term “quintessence” as a way of explaining the dark energy that permeates the universe.
In 2015, a study by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences reported the detection of a 30 times heavier particle that an electron that could build the base of this hypothetical force; However, this discovery continues to be a debate.
And these speculation in the field of physics, charged a recent and renewed interest thanks to the data obtained from the Bennu Asteroid. Because a group of researchers said that, when studying their career, they could be close to discovering the existence of a new force of nature. Although more studies are needed to confirm the results, if they are achieved, it would start with a new revolution In the world of science.
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The essential asteroid in the search for fifth force
A proposed way to examine whether such force could exist, is closely watching the trajectories of asteroids, and few close to Earth They are as well observed as Bennu. The study of this celestial body has been fundamental to examine possible deviations in the behavior of known physical forces.
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From its discovery in 1999its trajectory has been monitored with remarkable precision, thanks to the collection of optical astrometric data and radar. As destination of the asteroid recovery mission Osiris-Rex NASA, the results obtained have facilitated to collect crucial information about Bennu, transforming it into a Natural Laboratory to test hypotheses related to new fundamental forces.
According to a study by an international team of scientists and published in the magazine Nature Communications Physicsthe idea is that any deviation in the trajectory Asteroid planned could be the result of a fifth unknown force acting on it.
The analysis of the data obtained focuses on investigating the interaction of this possible fifth force with particles of ultralight dark matter. Although so far conclusive evidence has been found, the techniques used have allowed refine the limits of the current hypotheses, which paves the way for future research in this field of study.
According Yu-Dai Tsaithe astrophysic author of the study, the trajectories of the celestial bodies, represent valuable tools for the identification of new physical laws that could expand our understanding of the universe.
Such as, for example, what happened with the discovery of Neptune In the nineteenth century. Which saw the light for the first time not through a telescope, but through the meticulous calculations of the orbit of Uranus and the examination of gravitational anomalies in it. However, this technique is not infallible, since some scientists also believed that there was a planet called Vulcan between the Sun and Mercury, which turned out to be false.
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Advances in space exploration
Research on Bennu will be expanded as the mission progresses Osiris-Apexwhich will focus on the Apofis asteroid During its approach to Earth in 2029. This new approach has the potential to provide more detailed information on how forces not yet understood interact with celestial bodies.
Sunny Vagnozziattached professor at the University of Trent (Italy) and co -author of the study, highlights the importance of these missions for deepen in aspects of the standard model of physics. Although conclusive evidence has not yet been found, the interest in the existence of a fifth force continues to increase, both in experiments on Earth and in space investigations.
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
