20–27 Mar 2026
Wild View Resorts
Africa/Gaborone timezone

A Cosmological Study Based on Variable Fundamental Natural Constants

Not scheduled
20m
Wild View Resorts

Wild View Resorts

Plot 80 President Avenue, Kasane, Botswana
In-person - Poster Presentation 10 S&E poster Science & Engineering

Speaker

Mr Bekithemba Sibanda (National University of Science and Technology)

Description

The constancy of fundamental natural constants (FNCs), such as the fine-structure constant (α), the gravitational constant (G), and the speed of light (c), is a foundational pillar of modern physics. However, persistent observational anomalies—most notably the > 5σ Hubble Tension between early- and late-universe measurements of the Hubble constant—increasingly challenge this paradigm. While theoretical frameworks such as scalar-tensor gravity and string theory naturally suggest temporal or spatial variation of constants, a unified, self-consistent model capable of simultaneously varying α,G, and c within a single geometric framework remains absent.This research proposes to develop a novel cosmological framework grounded in generalization of the Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) metric, incorporating spatial time-flow anisotropy through a new metric ansatz. Within this geometry, FNCs are treated as dynamical fields, evolving with both cosmic time and spatial position. A key postulate of the model is the invariance of the Planck length, which imposes a necessary constraint linking variations of G,ℏand c, ensuring theoretical consistency and testability. The primary aim is to investigate whether such variations can resolve the Hubble Tension and other cosmological anomalies, including the lithium problem and reported spatial variations in α. The methodology involves deriving modified Friedmann equations,vimplementing numerical simulations, and employing advanced statistical and machine learning techniques to constrain the model against premier datasets from Planck, SH0ES, and quasar absorption spectra.

Stream Science or Engineering

Primary author

Mr Bekithemba Sibanda (National University of Science and Technology)

Presentation materials

There are no materials yet.