Can spatial geometry replace the Higgs field?

The latest theoretical research is opening up a groundbreaking prospect: The geometry of space itself may play a more central role in physics than we previously thought. Instead of merely serving as a "backdrop" for interacting forces, the structure of spacetime may be the very entity that generates the forces and particles that make up the universe.

 

This research suggests that the fundamental behaviors of nature arise directly from the structure of spacetime, making geometry the common source of all physical interactions.

Hidden dimensions and 7-dimensional geometric structures

In a paper published in the journal Nuclear Physics B , physicist Richard Pincak and his colleagues examined whether properties of matter and force could emerge from the geometry of hidden dimensions—dimensions outside of ordinary three-dimensional space.

 

The research team proposes that the universe comprises additional dimensions that cannot be directly observed. These dimensions can be compressed and folded into complex seven-dimensional shapes called manifolds . Previously, these geometric structures were often considered fixed. However, this new research explores what happens when these shapes evolve over time through a mathematical process called Ricci flow , which gradually alters their intrinsic geometry.

 

Geometric torsion and structural stability

"Similar to organic systems such as the helical structure of DNA or the reversibility of amino acids, these multidimensional structures may possess torsion —a form of intrinsic coiling," Pincak explains. This torsion creates an inherent rotational movement within the geometric structure itself.

When researchers simulated how these twisted shapes changed over time, they discovered that the geometry could spontaneously stabilize into stable states called solitons . These solitons provide a purely geometric explanation for complex physical phenomena, such as spontaneous symmetry breaking .

 

Rethinking the origin of mass

In the Standard Model of particle physics, mass is generated through interaction with the Higgs field —which gives weight to particles like W and Z bosons. However, this new theory proposes another possibility: Instead of relying on a separate field, mass could be the result of twisting within the multidimensional geometry itself.

"In our model," Pincak says, "matter arises from the drag of the geometry itself, not from an external field." From this perspective, mass reflects how spacetime reacts to its own internal structure, rather than being influenced by an additional physical component.

The expansion of the universe and the new fundamental particle "Torstone"

The researchers also linked geometric twist to the curvature of spacetime on a large scale. This connection could help explain the positive cosmological constant , which relates to the accelerated expansion of the universe.

Besides the cosmological implications, the research team also speculates about the existence of a previously unknown fundamental particle associated with torsion, which they call the "Torstone" particle . If this particle does exist, it could be detected in future particle physics experiments.

Expanding Einstein's Mechanical Concepts

The greater ambition of this work is to push Albert Einstein's vision further. If gravity arises from geometry, do all other fundamental forces share a common origin?

As Pincak concluded: "Nature often favors simple solutions. Perhaps the mass of the W and Z bosons doesn't come from the famous Higgs field, but directly from the geometry of seven-dimensional space."