Albert Einstein's theory of special relativity explains how space and time are linked, but it doesn't include acceleration. By including acceleration, Einstein later developed the theory of general relativity, which explains how massive objects in the cosmos distort the fabric of space-time. The theory explains how this distortion is felt as the force of gravity, as it predicts how much the mass of an object curves space-time. Scientists test relativity by observing objects in space and seeing if their behaviors match up with Einstein's explanations of space-time and gravity, for instance by observing how light bends around massive objects as it travels towards Earth.
Related Topics: The Big Bang Theory, Black Holes, Dark Matter, Gravitational Waves, Multiverse
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