Researchers Measure Frame-Dragging to 0.1%, Confirming Einstein as LARES-2 Beats Gravity Probe B
Updated
Updated · Scientific American · Jul 10
Researchers Measure Frame-Dragging to 0.1%, Confirming Einstein as LARES-2 Beats Gravity Probe B
2 articles · Updated · Scientific American · Jul 10
Summary
A Nature study pinned down Earth’s frame-dragging effect with uncertainty of about one part in 1,000, the most precise measurement yet and more than 10 times better than earlier results.
LARES-2 data combined with NASA’s LAGEOS satellites let researchers cancel distortions from Earth’s uneven shape and isolate the relativistic signal after tracking the troublesome K1 lunisolar tide for three years.
Daniel Holz said the approach effectively used the satellites’ full orbits as gyroscopes, making it about 100 times more precise than NASA’s $750 million Gravity Probe B mission at far lower cost.
The result tightens limits on alternative gravity theories and also refines estimates of the K1 tide, though outside experts said stronger-gravity tests would still be more likely to reveal any break from general relativity.
How can a simple metal sphere in orbit provide our best-ever test of Einstein's theory?
Beyond proving Einstein right, what new secrets about gravity will this mission unlock?
LARES-2 Delivers Most Precise Frame-Dragging Measurement to Date: 0.2% Uncertainty Validates Einstein
Overview
In July 2026, the LARES-2 mission reached a groundbreaking milestone in astrophysics by delivering the most precise measurement of frame-dragging ever achieved. This result confirmed the Lense-Thirring effect, a key prediction of Einstein's General Relativity, with an unprecedented relative uncertainty of just 0.2%. By reducing the uncertainty of previous tests by about an order of magnitude, LARES-2 not only reaffirms Einstein's theory with new accuracy but also significantly advances our understanding of gravity. This dramatic improvement pushes the boundaries of experimental physics and highlights the mission's critical role in modern science.