Science
NIST scientists publish new big G measurement that differs from previous experiment
A decade-long experiment yielded a new value for the gravitational constant, according to ScienceDaily.
The short version
- Physicist Stephan Schlamminger and NIST colleagues completed a decade-long study to measure the universal gravitational constant, using data-blinding methods to prevent bias.[ScienceDaily]
- The new measurement was published in Metrologia as 6.67387 × 10-11 meters3/kilogram/second2.[ScienceDaily]
- This new value is 0.0235% lower than the result from a prior French experiment, continuing long-standing discrepancies in gravitational measurements.[ScienceDaily]
Key facts
- Physicist Stephan Schlamminger and NIST researchers conducted a decade-long experiment to measure the universal gravitational constant.[ScienceDaily]
- To maintain objectivity, colleague Patrick Abbott blinded the experiment by altering mass weight data with a secret number.[ScienceDaily]
- Schlamminger revealed the results on July 11, 2024, at the Conference on Precision Electromagnetic Measurements in Colorado.[ScienceDaily]
- The NIST team published their value for G as 6.67387 × 10-11 meters3/kilogram/second2 in Metrologia, which is 0.0235% lower than a previous French experiment.[ScienceDaily]
What remains uncertain
- The cause of the persistent discrepancies between different high-precision measurements of the universal gravitational constant remains unknown.[ScienceDaily]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.
- Scientists opened a sealed envelope after 10 years. Gravity still didn’t make senseScienceDaily - Science