Astrophysicists at the University of Waterloo in Canada have developed a new model that could explain the “cosmic glitch” encountered at the edge of the expanding universe. Nearly a century ago, astronomers discovered that the universe is expanding, leading some to propose that this expansion could be attributed to a weakening of gravity at extreme distances. However, when scientists attempt to apply general relativity to phenomena on a cosmic scale, they encounter inconsistencies in its predictions.

Robin Wen, a graduate student in mathematical physics at the University of Waterloo, highlights these challenges. He notes that as galaxies move farther away, they appear to accelerate, violating the predictions of general relativity. To address these discrepancies, researchers introduced the concept of a “cosmic glitch,” where gravity behaves unexpectedly on cosmological scales and exhibits a one percent decrease in strength over billions of light years.

For over two decades, physicists and astronomers have sought to develop a mathematical framework that can address these inconsistencies within general relativity. The researchers’ new model is an extension of Einstein’s theory that offers a potential resolution to the discrepancies observed at cosmic distances without negating the validity of general relativity. The model represents a modification to Einstein’s formulae that becomes relevant only on large cosmic scales.

Niayesh Afshordi, an astrophysics professor at the University of Waterloo, suggests that this model might provide the first step in unraveling a cosmic puzzle that spans space and time. He believes it could shed light on the fundamental nature of gravity in the universe by providing a more accurate understanding of how gravity behaves on vast scales.