[PatrickHenry]

that should have been measured by the astronomers long time ago

I don't see how. This effect -- if it's real -- happens with a rotating superconductor. Are there any such objects that astronomers could observe? If so, then you've got a point.

[Quark2005]

This effect -- if it's real -- happens with a rotating superconductor. Are there any such objects that astronomers could observe?

If this is indeed a quantum gravity effect (as the researchers hope), it might very well require making measurements in very close proximity to the source - there are variants of quantum gravity theory that predict standard general relativity theory breaks down at 'short' distances (in the rough order of magnitude of 1 mm or so).

I'm also (somewhat wildly) guessing that superconductors are used because one can truly reduce mechanical friction effects to zero (in all practicality). If my understanding of the article is correct (no guarantees there), the effect isn't otherwise related to the electrical nature of the object at all.

[AdmSmith]

I don't see how. This effect -- if it's real -- happens with a rotating superconductor. Are there any such objects that astronomers could observe? If so, then you've got a point.


Here you have an article about binary pulsars; two rapidly rotating highly magnetized neutron stars. http://relativity.livingreviews.org/Articles/lrr-2005-7/

and here a primer on neutron stars http://www.astro.umd.edu/~miller/nstar.html