An orbiting disco ball gave Einstein’s theory its most precise test yet
Scientists have achieved the most precise measurement of the Lense-Thirring effect, or frame dragging, using a specialized satellite called LARES-2. This experiment confirms a key prediction of Einstein’s general theory of relativity regarding how rotating masses distort space-time.
Why it matters
Validating fundamental physics theories with high precision deepens our understanding of the universe's structure and the nature of gravity.
What a drag An orbiting disco ball gave Einstein’s theory its most precise test yet The Earth may not be that massive, but it still distorts space-time.
31 Credit: NASA Credit: NASA Text settings Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only Learn more Minimize to nav Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity predicts that a rotating mass like the Earth pulls the fabric of space and time around with it in a perpetual swirl. This phenomenon is known as frame dragging or the Lense-Thirring effect, after the two physicists who modeled it back in 1918. Frame dragging becomes more significant with larger masses and faster rotation, so we’ve mainly observed it around huge black holes.
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