Produced by: Manoj Kumar
Tracking data from asteroid Bennu has uncovered intriguing clues about a potential fifth fundamental force in the universe, going beyond the known four forces—gravity, electromagnetism, and strong and weak nuclear interactions.
The hypothesized fifth force could be linked to dark matter and may involve ultralight particles, suggesting a new fundamental interaction that challenges the current Standard Model of physics.
This potential force may be carried by ultralight particles, a proposed type of dark matter that has yet to be directly detected, raising exciting possibilities in our understanding of the cosmos.
Researchers meticulously tracked Bennu’s orbit using OSIRIS-REx spacecraft data, exploring whether unknown forces, such as a fifth force, could be affecting its path around the Sun.
Astrophysicist Yu-Dai Tsai from Los Alamos National Laboratory believes interpreting Bennu’s data could reshape our understanding of gravity, dark matter, and the universe’s theoretical foundations.
The study touches on string theory, proposing that large-scale gravity modifications, through Yukawa interactions—where a new type of force field affects particle behavior—might hint at a new field affecting the orbits of massive objects like Bennu.
Extensive long-term tracking of Bennu’s orbit provided some of the tightest constraints ever on a Yukawa-type fifth force, but no conclusive detection was made.
Though no fifth force was found, the study sets strict limits on its potential strength or range, narrowing the possibilities for future investigations in fundamental physics.
The study, published in Communications Physics, highlights asteroid tracking’s potential in uncovering dark matter, ultralight bosons, and extending our current physical models.