In 2023, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission returned a sample of dust and rocks from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu.
This remarkable achievement not only provided scientists with valuable information about the asteroid but also opened the door to exploring new ideas in physics.
A group of researchers, led by Los Alamos National Laboratory, is now using the data from Bennu to investigate the possibility of a fifth fundamental force in the universe. Their findings were published in Communications Physics.
Currently, scientists know of four fundamental forces that govern the universe: gravity, electromagnetism, the weak nuclear force, and the strong nuclear force. These forces are described by the Standard Model of physics, which has successfully explained much of how the universe works.
However, there are still mysteries that remain unsolved, like the nature of dark matter and dark energy. Some scientists believe that a fifth force could help answer these questions.
“Studying Bennu’s trajectory could provide important clues about the basic forces in the universe and even reshape our understanding of the Standard Model,” explained Yu-Dai Tsai, the lead author of the research. “Anomalies, or unusual patterns, in the paths of celestial objects can be signs of new physics.”
Near-Earth asteroids like Bennu are closely monitored because they could pose a threat to our planet. The OSIRIS-REx mission tracked Bennu’s movements very carefully, providing detailed data about its position and trajectory over time.
By analyzing this tracking data, the research team aimed to detect any unusual behavior that might point to the existence of a fifth force.
Since Bennu was discovered in 1999, scientists have used a variety of methods, including optical and radar tracking, to follow its journey through space. During the OSIRIS-REx mission, additional data was gathered using X-band radiometric and optical navigation tools. This combination of data allowed the researchers to put tighter limits on the possibility of a fifth force, particularly a type known as a Yukawa-type force.
“The precise tracking of Bennu has helped us set some of the tightest limits ever on this type of fifth force,” said Sunny Vagnozzi, a co-author of the study and assistant professor at the University of Trento in Italy.
“Asteroid tracking is proving to be a valuable tool in our search for dark matter and other unexplored aspects of physics.”
What could a fifth force mean?
The movement of objects like asteroids is influenced by gravity and other factors.
By closely examining the trajectory of Bennu, the researchers were able to look for signs of a new particle, such as an ultralight boson, that might be involved in this potential fifth force.
If such a particle exists, it could cause small changes in Bennu’s orbit, offering clues about the fifth force.
Scientists are particularly excited about the possibility that this fifth force could help explain dark matter, which is believed to make up about 85% of the matter in the universe. Although scientists have seen evidence of dark matter through its effects on galaxies, they still don’t know what particles or forces are responsible for it.
The research team plans to continue their investigation by studying the asteroid Apophis, which will come within 20,000 miles of Earth in 2029. NASA’s OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft will approach Apophis and kick up dust, providing valuable data. By observing how Apophis is affected by Earth’s gravity, scientists hope to gather even more information about the possible fifth force.
The team is also exploring the use of new quantum technologies and space missions to improve tracking precision and search for dark matter directly. This exciting research could bring us closer to understanding some of the universe’s greatest mysteries.
