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lewdwig06/16/20253 repliesview on HN

The problem with emergent theories like this is that they _derive_ Newtonian gravity and General Relativity so it’s not clear there’s anything to test. If they are able to predict MOND without the need for an additional MOND field then they become falsifiable only insofar as MOND is.


Replies

dawnofdusk06/16/2025

Deriving existing theories of gravity is an important test of the theory, it's not a problem at all. It's only a problem if you can only do this with more free parameters than the existing theory and/or the generalized theory doesn't make any independent predictions. Seems like in the article the former may be true but not the latter.

cryptonector06/16/2025

If such a theory makes no new predictions but is simple / simpler than the alternative, then it is a better theory.

JPLeRouzic06/16/2025

Please, how is the article related to MOND's theories?

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