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Is it possible that it's something other than gravity? A force we don't know about because of how weak it is but has an effect on a large scale? I'm completely

Is it possible that it's something other than gravity? A force we don't know about because of how weak it is but has an effect on a large scale? I'm completely ignorant of the subject so I don't know how crazy that might sound.

cdumler 8y ago
No, that is a perfectly valid question. The answer is: science has no idea what gravity _is_. What we do know is: The Newton/Einstein definition is that it is an effect by mass on space/time. Mass always travels in a straight line (unless acted on), but mass causes space/time to curve. So, what we see as gravitation attraction is a fake force. No different than being "pushed" into the back of your seat when a car accelerates. You are staying still, the car is moving forwards. The Newton/Einstein definition does not specify any mechanism. The description, however, is highly specific, and so far every test for the most subtle effects have been validated. Well, except for cosmic structures. Quantum mechanics says that particles emit/receive interactions via the graviton carrier, and that it can be quantized and transmitted via waves. In the last few years, we have detected gravitational waves. It fits perfectly and exactly as we would expect over cosmic distances. Unfortunately, the amount of energy necessary to detect an actual graviton is beyond anything we can expect to be able to produce for the forceable future and likely will never have the resources. So that is out. Also, it makes no claim on how it can affect space/time. So, just like we original argued over whether or not it was particles or waves, I think this paradox strongly suggests that we're just not looking at gravity correctly. I suspect that the real problem is "What is time?" Why do things experience different rates of time? It seems obvious to me that gravity, time, and entanglement are related. Gravity is very likely to be Dark Matter: a stand-in name until we can grasp the fundamentals.
- ziftface 8y ago
  Thanks for the reply! This gave me a lot to look into.
- oAlbe 8y ago
  > Unfortunately, the amount of energy necessary to detect an actual graviton is beyond anything we can expect to be able to produce for the forceable future and likely will never have the resources. Sorry for the late reply. Why is that? What determines the amount of energy needed to detect a given particle?

cdumler 8y ago

No, that is a perfectly valid question. The answer is: science has no idea what gravity _is_. What we do know is: The Newton/Einstein definition is that it is an effect by mass on space/time. Mass always travels in a straight line (unless acted on), but mass causes space/time to curve. So, what we see as gravitation attraction is a fake force. No different than being "pushed" into the back of your seat when a car accelerates. You are staying still, the car is moving forwards. The Newton/Einstein definition does not specify any mechanism. The description, however, is highly specific, and so far every test for the most subtle effects have been validated. Well, except for cosmic structures. Quantum mechanics says that particles emit/receive interactions via the graviton carrier, and that it can be quantized and transmitted via waves. In the last few years, we have detected gravitational waves. It fits perfectly and exactly as we would expect over cosmic distances. Unfortunately, the amount of energy necessary to detect an actual graviton is beyond anything we can expect to be able to produce for the forceable future and likely will never have the resources. So that is out. Also, it makes no claim on how it can affect space/time. So, just like we original argued over whether or not it was particles or waves, I think this paradox strongly suggests that we're just not looking at gravity correctly. I suspect that the real problem is "What is time?" Why do things experience different rates of time? It seems obvious to me that gravity, time, and entanglement are related. Gravity is very likely to be Dark Matter: a stand-in name until we can grasp the fundamentals.

ziftface 8y ago
Thanks for the reply! This gave me a lot to look into.
oAlbe 8y ago
> Unfortunately, the amount of energy necessary to detect an actual graviton is beyond anything we can expect to be able to produce for the forceable future and likely will never have the resources. Sorry for the late reply. Why is that? What determines the amount of energy needed to detect a given particle?