Change in universal constant

[28350]

So apparently a team of relatively reliable scientists has recorded data that indicates a change in the fine-structure constant, α (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fine-structure_constant). Whether the discrepancy is due to error or something more significant is still unclear. This could mean serious changes in cosmology.

The fine-structure constant (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fine-structure_constant), a coupling constant characterizing the strength of the electromagnetic interaction, has been measured lately by scientists from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia and has been found to change slightly (http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/62985/title/Changing_one_of_natures_constants) in light sent from quasars in galaxies as far back as 12 billion years ago. Although the results look promising, caution is advised: 'This would be sensational if it were real, but I'm still not completely convinced that it's not simply systematic errors' in the data, comments cosmologist Max Tegmark of MIT. Craig Hogan of the University of Chicago and the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia, Ill., acknowledges that 'it's a competent team and a thorough analysis.' But because the work has such profound implications for physics and requires such a high level of precision measurements, 'it needs more proof before we'll believe it.'
Source: Slashdot.org (http://science.slashdot.org/story/10/09/05/212252/Fine-Structure-Constant-Maybe-Not-So-Constant)

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

This is very exciting, but they are right to be cautious. I wonder what the implications of this could be?

[28350]

A question I have is if it had changed (or is still changing), does it change everywhere at the same rate, or is it carried out throughout space? I would imagine it would be the former, which would be remarkably interesting, but if it were the latter, that would be interesting too. Less "elegant," perhaps, as these theories are supposed to be, and possibly violating the invariance of c.

The fine structure constant can be reduced to
http://upload.wikimedia.org/math/f/1/e/f1e42d3279709817c3c9b1d2c5f5fc56.png
where e is the elementary charge, h-bar is the reduced planck's constant, and c is the speed of light in a vacuum.

Both h-bar and c are equally fundamental, which means it might be e that is changing. Who knows, maybe the formula itself is just tacked on to the observed data as a relationship and may not apply anymore.

[The Vegan Marxist]

Yes, this is truly exciting. The cautionary implications to this is drastic, but I hope to hear more of this soon. Keep us updated if possible.

[NGNM85]

Here's another article from ScienceDaily; http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100909004112.htm

[Amphictyonis]

Here I was thinking the laws of physics were universal?