theory

Is there a fifth force of nature?

In the quest to understand the fundamental forces that govern our universe, the Standard Model of particle physics has long stood as the cornerstone. Recent experimental discrepancies like those from Fermilab’s Muon g-2 experiment, have stirred the physics community, suggesting that the muon’s behavior under magnetic fields might not fully align with Standard Model prediction.

The unusually large Muon has threatened the Standard Model for decades, but new data parks the particle inside the confines of established physics. The BMW Collaboration’s recently posted research suggests the difference between the muon’s predicted anomalous magnetic moment and that predicted by the Standard Model is not as large as previous findings suggested.

Recent research on muons reveals inconsistencies between observed magnetic behaviors and theoretical predictions, hinting the potential discovery of new physical phenomena or the need to update quantum mechanics theories.

Is gravity a force? It’s complicated

Which theory on gravity is the most accurate at describing reality? Don Lincoln suggests perhaps we have reached a moment of scientific Zen and that gravity just is.

From Big Think: A recent series of precise measurements of the Moon confirms that there are two types of mass which are the same. In Einstein’s most advanced theory, there are three “kinds” of mass that are thought to be one and the same but there is no fundamental reason why. Don Lincolns explains why.

From RTS (Swiss Broadcasting Corporation), Sept. 7, 2023: Fermilab’s August 10 announcement indicated the muon does not behave as theory predicts. Professor Tobias Golling, from the particle physics department at the University of Geneva, explains in a video that there are two possibilities to explain the observed discrepancy.

From Popular Science, August 17, 2023: Breaking the Standard Model would be one of the biggest moments in particle physics history. The Muon g-2 collaboration reported that the muon doesn’t always look like physicists expect it to look, but the collaboration isn’t done. Once they analyze all the remaining data, physicists believe they can make their g minus 2 estimate twice as precise again.