Astronomers Cannot Agree On How Fast the Universe is Expanding (economist.com)
- Reference: 0178595614
- News link: https://science.slashdot.org/story/25/08/06/207232/astronomers-cannot-agree-on-how-fast-the-universe-is-expanding
- Source link: https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2025/08/06/astronomers-cannot-agree-on-how-fast-the-universe-is-expanding
The discrepancy, known as the Hubble tension, has strengthened annually for the past decadem, according to Duke University astronomer Dan Scolnic. The persistent disagreement prevents calculation of the universe's precise age or size. The Lambda-CDM model, which holds that dark energy and dark matter comprise 95% of the universe while visible matter constitutes just 5%, assumes dark energy's nature has remained constant since the Big Bang.
Some theorists propose dark energy's potency changes over time, while others suggest the Milky Way sits within a comparatively empty region of space. A June study using gravitational lensing of quasar light, bypassing traditional distance measurements, matched the higher value. New telescopes including the Vera Rubin Observatory and Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope may provide additional data. Past improvements in measurement precision have only reinforced rather than resolved the tension.
[1] https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2025/08/06/astronomers-cannot-agree-on-how-fast-the-universe-is-expanding
Grand Unified Theory of Silly Buggers (Score:2)
At some point, the simplest explanation that accounts for all observed cosmological phenomena is that the universe is just messing with us.
Re: (Score:2)
> At some point, the simplest explanation that accounts for all observed cosmological phenomena is that the universe is just messing with us.
The simulation did not expect any of the simulated lifeforms to develop observational powers good enough to find the discrepancies between some observable facts and others. We're an early iteration. The next reboot will see improved physics, allowing for better correlation between the observable CBM expansion rate and the distant galactic expansion rate. Perhaps our current hardware needs an upgrade to get full resolution of these observances?
Re: (Score:2)
In the beginning, there was only God and Man. And they were both bored.
So Man said to God: "How about a little game ? I dare you to create a coherent universe that I can't understand."
To which God replied: "Hold my beer."
Alternate explaination (Score:2)
> ... the Milky Way sits within a comparatively empty region of space.
Perhaps we've been enclosed in a [1]Slo-Time Envelope [fandom.com], which is preventing us from calculating things accurately. Perhaps a preventative measure by Judiciary Pag to protect the rest of the Universe from us -- and any future Make the Universe Great Again movement. :-)
[1] https://hitchhikers.fandom.com/wiki/Slo-Time_Envelope
Queue the idiots... (Score:4, Insightful)
Scientists are baffled! Researches are terrified! Physics is broken! FFS.
It's just the frayed edge of our current understanding. There's no reason to think that there's anything wrong with the vast majority of our current mental model. But to hear the Internet talk about it, we're all huddled in fear that we might be wrong. But in truth, the clearer it becomes that the discrepancy is real, the more interesting things get.
Know why classical quantum physics is relatively boring? Because it's just so darned right all the time. It's no fun to just confirm things every time you measure them. The fun starts with a raised eyebrow and, "Huh..." The current benchmark for alternative theories is that they are as right as the classical ones.
Why this article? Nothing new here,
Clickbait Crap (Score:3)
"Astronomers cannot agree on how fast the universe is expanding
This suggests cosmology might be wrong about something fundamental"
It's shit articles like this that only help to fuel the anti-science types. Yes, the difference between the expansion rate of the distant galaxies and the CMB is an important thing to sort out, but it has nothing to do with already established successful and important science. This doesn't make a whit of difference to the average person, except that "scientists cannot agree".
Re: (Score:3)
The more important anomaly is the JWST observation of galaxies that formed when the Universe was "too young for those galaxies to form".
If you push back the age of the Universe to allow those galaxies to form then you push on the coefficients of expansion and those need to agree with theory which they do not under current theory.
Some theories are compatible but lack a Big Bang which is taken as an article of faith by most and need more observations to consider.
Scientists not agreeing *is* science. If the s
is it really that big of a variance (Score:2)
Is 73 vs 67 that fundamentally changing? I mean, they both agree the universe is expanding.... that's more agreement then you can get in the US House or Senate.
Re: (Score:2)
Maybe the investors were promised 70 km/s/mpc growth, and could sell all their shares at the Multiverse Exchange, making our Universe nearly worthless.
Universal agreement (Score:4, Funny)
So everyone agrees that it's 70 (+/- 3)
News? (Score:2)
There is really nothing new here. This has been going on for years and we seem no closer to resolving the discrepancy then we were when it was first discovered.