Modern physics relies on several independent frameworks. General Relativity describes gravity, dark matter is invoked to explain galactic dynamics, dark energy is introduced to account for cosmic acceleration, and the Yang–Mills mass-gap problem remains unsolved.This work explores the possibility that these phenomena emerge from a common mechanism: a gravitational coupling that depends on the surrounding distribution of matter and energy. In simple terms, the theory proposes that Newton's gravitational constant, G, varies with surrounding matter.
Galaxy rotation curves may be explained using visible matter alone through the effects of a variable gravitational coupling.
The observed acceleration of the Universe may arise naturally from spatial variations of the gravitational coupling.
Under the assumption of a gravitationally unified framework, the proposed theory generates a non-zero mass gap for pure Yang–Mills theory through the same underlying mechanism.
The theory predicts measurable variations of the effective gravitational constant under controlled laboratory conditions.
If confirmed, this framework could provide a common explanation for several major open questions in modern physics. If contradicted by experiment, it can be falsified through direct measurements of the gravitational coupling. The theory was developed between 2018 and 2025. Experimental collaborations are welcome. For mathematical details, derivations, and supporting calculations, see the Technical Summary.