MIREIA BONICH 1r Batx B (6)

Universes with no weak force might still have stars and life

Summary:

An alternate cosmos could do without one of the fundamental forces. Not all fundamental forces are created equal. An alternate universe that lacks the weak nuclear force₁, one of the four fundamental forces that govern all matter in our universe, could still form galaxies, stars, planets and perhaps life.

Gravity, strong and electromagnetic₂ are indispensable, but the weak nuclear force, responsible for making neutrons decay into protons, electrons and neutrinos, might not be so essential. 

A study says that the only way such a universe could create complex matter would be to have started out with fewer neutrons and more free protons than our universe did. That way, neutrons and protons could link up and make deuterium₃. Stars fueled with deuterium could still create all the elements of the periodic table. 

Link:

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/alternate-universe-fundamental-weak-force-physics?tgt=nr 

Publication date:

30/01/18

Scientific field:

Astronomy, cosmology

Glossary:

1. Weak nuclear force: Is the mechanism of interaction between sub-atomic particles that causes radioactive decay.
2. Electromagnetic: This is a type of physical interaction that occurs between electrically charged particles. This force plays a major role in determining the internal properties of most objects encountered in daily life.
3. Deuterium: Is one of two stable isotopes of hydrogen (the other being protium).

Analysis comment:

This article talks about a force that could not be fundamental, that is, life could exist without the need for this force to exist. The force of which we speak is the weak force. Different experiments have been carried out that prove that life could even exist without this force, but, by the moment, they are only suppositions. 

I think that with these hypotheses, experiments and discoveries, we can advance a lot in astronomy. I believe that this is a very important issue, we are surrounded by many planets, we are only something very small, and maybe in some of these planets will be a future life.

I think that the fact that normal force is not necessary is very important, until now it was believed that there were four indispensable forces, gravity, strong, electromagnetic and normal force, and there would only be three. 

Finally, the conclusion that came out of this news is that if we continue to investigate with enthusiasm, we will discover many things that in the past we could not even imagine.