Evidence For Non-Newtonian Gravity In Wide Binaries

A new paper shows statistically significant tensions between the assumption of Newtonian gravity (to which General Relativity conventionally applied reduces in the weak field regime) in the MOND transition region (which is not found in the non-MONDian field strength area) in an analysis of the Gaia DR3 dataset. 

The significance of the deviation is still below the five sigma discovery level (2.1 sigma in the MOND regime and 4.2 sigma for the weaker effect in the MOND transition regime), the expected value under a MOND hypothesis in the MOND transition region isn't entirely clear, and there are multiple potential sources of unmeasured systemic error (most importantly, the possibility that some data points that look like binary stars actually have three or more stars in the system with the smallest star going undetected). 

But, while it is not the definitive evidence, it is consistent with a MOND hypothesis, and it is still significant positive evidence of MONDian-like behavior in wide binary stars. This, at a minimum, justifies further investigation of, and research regarding, this hypothesis. 

(I've used a screenshot of the abstract rather than cutting and pasting it, in order to preserve the extensive formatting there.)

Kyu-Hyun Chae, "Low-Acceleration Gravitational Anomaly from Bayesian 3D Modeling of Wide Binary Orbits: Methodology and Results with Gaia DR3" arXiv:2502.09373 (February 13, 2025).