Brans-Dicke and Ricci-squared Gravities: Sixty Years On... (New Exact Solutions, WEC, Wormholes, and More)

In this talk, I aim to challenge persistent misconceptions surrounding Brans-Dicke and (Buchdahl's) pure Ricci-squared theories. Through concrete counterexamples in the form of new exact solutions, I will shed light on theoretical aspects related to the violation of the Weak Energy Condition, the construction of wormholes, and the revelation of novel structures within these spacetimes. Join me as we revisit these gravitational theories and explore their untapped potential.