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Having mentioned in a blog last week that Isaac Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation was being challenged by theoretical physicist Erik Verlinde, this week it seems to be the turn of Albert Einstein to be put to the test.

Polish cosmologist Nikodem Poplawski of Indiana University USA is suggesting that it is in fact possible that parallel universes could exist at the end of each black hole, thus contradicting Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity from 1915.

According to Albert Einstein, one of the greatest names in 20th century physics, the centre of black holes are a place where the density of matter is infinite, called ‘singularity’, and as such, nothing can escape, not even light (hence the name black hole). 

However, Poplawski is putting forward the idea that the behaviour of the universe is more like a spring being compressed with matter rebounding and expanding continuously – when compressed to an extreme, it reaches a critical point where the repulsive force overcomes gravity, allowing it to expand (as would happen with a spring).

Going further, he proposes that this "spring effect" of the universe creates the possibility of the formation of parallel universes to our own, all connected to each other by black holes, which act like bridges.

Both Verlinde and Poplawski are trying to call into question the current accepted scientific concepts – the former by suggesting that Isaac Newton was mistaken and that in the microscopic world gravity does not exist, and the latter by considering that Einstein’s theory has some doubtful points that perhaps need modifying.

For all of us, we should never tire of raising questions about the world in which we live. When I am asked a question about something that seems improbable or impossible, I don’t hesitate to say in response: “If you look down at the ground beneath your feet, would you not believe that the Earth is moving?”

Science is like that – the obvious answer is not always the correct answer!
 


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