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An unconventional strategy sizes up Newton’s ‘big G’

Scientists calculate a fundamental constant by measuring the gravitational forces between two beams.
Experimental set up used to measure Newton’s constant of gravitation

An experimental set-up for measuring Newton’s gravitational constant includes a chamber (left, rectangular drawer) holding a ‘transmitter beam’ and a second chamber (middle, square plate) holding a ‘detector beam’. Credit: T. Brack et al./Nat. Phys.

Physicists have made the first precise measurement of Newton’s universal gravitational constant to use vibrating beams1. Although the technique is not yet as precise as others, it could eventually help to reconcile competing measurements.

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Nature 607, 424 (2022)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-022-01911-9

References

  1. Brack, T. et al. Nature Phys. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-022-01642-8 (2022).

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