Dark Matter findings suggest Einstein’s Theory of Relativity “may be wrong” - BBC News

Dark matter is perhaps the most mysterious substance in the universe.

Little is known about it. Scientists are pretty sure it exists but don't know exactly what it is.

Yet it is fundamental to their explanation of the Universe. They believe it permeates space and amounts to around 80% of all matter.

Dark matter does not emit or absorb light but is subject to the effects of gravity. Because of that, astronomers can measure the way it distorts light from distant stars.

Now for the first time they have mapped the distribution of dark matter in the Universe. However the findings have deepened the mystery because they seem to contradict Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, one of the central pillars of modern physics.

Sophie Raworth presents BBC News at Ten reporting by science correspondent Pallab Ghosh.

#BBCNews

[alexwatson]

Anyone who tells you “the science is settled” doesn't understand science.

[FH-cmdj]

This is the great thing about science. Being wrong isn't a depressing thing, it narrows down your path to the truth and what is correct. Being wrong can teach us where to look. Being wrong can give us the right answers.

[sunnyk]

"No amount of experimentation will ever prove me right, but a single experiment can prove me wrong." - Einstein

[edddddddddddd]

I love how a true scientist will be excited about being proven wrong.because the goal is discovery and progress, not being right.something ideologues should learn.

[TheBandzuga]

It will take another 100 years to update high school books.

[ljllob]

Einstein wouldn’t have minded he was a true scientist and knew theories were made to be proven wrong

[SiddharthaSingh]

"My whole life's work may crumble in front of me, but it's still very exciting" such profound words

[andresastudisho]

“Scientific knowledge about the Universe could never be more than a tiny island in a vast sea of invincible ignorance.”
David Layzer

[peeper]

A Level Physics be like “Show that Einstein’s theories of relativity are wrong” [6 marks]

[Arcian]

I think if Einstein was alive today, he would be pretty thrilled if it turns out he was wrong. That would mean he'd have the chance to find out what's actually going on.

[cesarvictoriano]

“Little is known about it.”

Every science fiction writer: “Write that down, WRITE THAT DOWN!!”

[DGFishRfine]

Imagine how stoked Einstein would be to be wrong

(Yes; really! That's how science works!)

[jamesgulliford]

I feel like the word "wrong" here is so ignorant. General relativity is a model that happens to describe the universe at large scales to incredible precision. We've known that GR isn't a complete description for decades but it will never be wrong. GR is clearly a sub-theory of a more general overarching theory of nature that will be constructed over the next 50 years.

[billkingston]

It's like dark chocolate in my house, I know it exists somewhere

[randar]

Listening to that scientist makes me smile, he is prepared to drop even a lifetime of work because newer insights come to light. For most normal people it's hard to drop believes they hold dear all their life even when proof comes to light.

[Marc-uwlw]

Very impressive that you can be positive about your life’s work being disproven. Whatever happens, Relativity got us to this point so it’s an incredible legacy

[someguy]

And nobody will understand this, because news organisations focus primarily on what’s flashy rather than explaining things more comprehensively.

[SotonSam]

Science is always evolving and understanding more and correcting itself as more information becomes available. That's the whole point.

[jonathanl]

It's not apt to say Relativity "may be wrong". It's more correct to say Relativity "isn't the full story". Which we already knew.

[paulgibbons]

Does not make him any less talented. He was a visionary of his day. Laid out theory for others to test and break. Definition of a good science work.