Einstein�s theory still passes the test

© Bruno van Wayenburg

A light cannon ball hits the ground at the same time as a heavy cannon ball when dropped off the leaning tower of Pisa. Even the Earth and the Moon fall in the same way towards the Sun. Einstein�s theory of gravity, general relativity, predicts that all objects fall in the same way, regardless of their mass or composition.

But most alternative theories predict that objects with extreme gravity, like neutron stars, fall a little differently than weak gravity objects.

That�s why our astronomers Anne Archibald and Jason Hessels have used a natural laboratory to test this theory in extreme conditions: the triple star system called PSR J0337+1715, consisting of a neutron star and two white dwarfs.

Their findings, published in Nature on 5 July 2018, prove that Einstein�s theory still passes the test in such extreme conditions.

You can find the full press release about this science story here.

We have been working together with science animator Bruno van Wayenburg to produce a really nice animation video about this Nature publication for the general audience.