Wiggling metal beams offer a new way to test gravity’s strength

The fundamental constant “Big G” is poorly known

apples falling with motion blur

Newton’s gravitational constant — or “Big G” — determines the strength of gravity, affecting how objects like these apples fall. But Big G is hard to precisely pin down. A new technique could eventually help cut down on that wiggle room.

nastenkapeka/iStock/Getty Images Plus, adapted by E. Otwell

In the quest to measure the fundamental constant that governs the strength of gravity, scientists are getting a wiggle on.