Can asteroid Bennu help us understand dark matter?
A potential ‘fifth force’ – an unknown force beyond the known four fundamental forces – could influence the orbits of celestial bodies. However, recent research on asteroid Bennu shows no evidence that such a force affects its orbit, putting a limit on how strong this mysterious force could be. This finding, published in Communications Physics on September 20, offers new perspectives on how forces can interact with dark matter, a key unresolved question in physics.
Bennu’s orbit examined with NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission tracked Bennu’s trajectory with extraordinary precision. It played a crucial role by allowing scientists to detect the smallest deviations in the asteroid’s path. The spacecraft also collected a sample from Bennu that returned to Earth in 2023. According to Dr. Yu-Dai Tsai, a physicist at Los Alamos National Laboratory, Bennu’s trajectory data has been meticulously analyzed, giving scientists a unique opportunity to look for subtle shifts in space. its trajectory that could indicate forces beyond our current understanding.
Research into forces and particles in the universe
The study of forces in physics often involves identifying particles associated with them. For example, photons, light particles, are responsible for electromagnetic interactions. If a fifth force exists, its particle could be responsible for dark matter, a mysterious part of the cosmos. Using Bennu’s orbital data, scientists explored this possibility, limiting the potential characteristics of such particles to extremely light masses, about one millionth of a trillionth the mass of an electron.
Expand the search across the solar system
With these findings, researchers suggest that analyzing the orbits of additional asteroids could further test for signs of the fifth force, potentially revealing a wider range of particle masses. While Bennu’s physical samples provide insight into its material composition, its precise trajectory could ultimately deepen our understanding of forces and particles associated with dark matter.
