Is the universe expanding faster than expected

In summary: It's also possible that the universe could eventually expand too fast for light to reach us. That would be the end of the universe as we know it.Advantages:-More precise calculations about the Hubble constant.-Helps to explain the cosmic microwave background.-Could eventually lead to better understanding of how the universe evolved.Disadvantages:-Could lead to the universe collapsing.-Might not be observable because light takes too long to travel.
  • #1
wolram
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Here they use information gathered form Cepheids, are these parallax measurements accurate?

From science daily.
Date:
June 2, 2016
Source:
Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI)
Summary:
Hubble Space Telescope astronomers have discovered that the universe is expanding 5-9% percent faster than expected. They made the discovery by refining the universe's current expansion rate to unprecedented accuracy, reducing the uncertainty to only 2.4%. The team made the refinements by developing innovative techniques that improved the precision of distance measurements to faraway galaxies. These measurements are fundamental to making more precise calculations of how fast the universe expands with time, a value called the Hubble constant.
 
Space news on Phys.org
  • #2
You can read Adam Reiss et al.'s paper on the physics ArXiv here:Abstract A 2.4% Determination of the Local Value of the Hubble Constant and .pdf paper.

5. Discussion
Our primary fit of H0 = 73.00 ± 1.75 km s−1 Mpc−1 is 3.3 higher than the value of 66.93 ±0.62 kms−1Mpc−1 predicted by Planck Collaboration et al. (2016) based on CDM with 3 neutrino flavors having a mass of 0.06 eV and the Planck CMB data (TT,TE,EE+SIMlow; 3.1 for TT+SIMlow). Assuming the 3.3 difference is not a fluke (99.9% confidence), possible explanations include systematic errors in the local H0 or CMB measurements, or an unexpected feature in the cosmological model that connects them.
Garth
 
  • #3
Hi. I'm trying to learn about this myself. What are the implications of a faster expanding universe?
 
  • #4
Cosmologists now have to see if that value is still compatible with other, independent measurements. If yes, it helps to improve the precision of some parameters about the universe. If it is not consistent, it gets interesting.
 
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  • #5
Interesting is probably sugar coating it, it gets downright ugly in a hurry. Scientists are habituated into assuming the fundamental laws of physics are fixed and unchanging, at least on times scales up to the age of the universe. If this assumption is falsified, everything we think we know about the universe is on shaky ground.
 
  • #6
Chronos said:
If this assumption is falsified
It would not be. It would just mean we don't understand the evolution of the universe between the very early stages and the current day well enough.
 
  • #7
What are some advantages and disadvantages of expanding universe ?
And how it can affect us
 
  • #8
A universe that never expanded would gravitationally collapse, probably in less time than it took for Earth to form. A universe that expands too fast would dilute matter to the point that not even stars could form.
 
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Related to Is the universe expanding faster than expected

1. What evidence suggests that the universe is expanding faster than expected?

Several observational studies, including the Hubble Space Telescope's measurement of the cosmic microwave background radiation, have shown that the universe is expanding at an accelerated rate. This is known as the phenomenon of cosmic acceleration.

2. How does the expansion of the universe affect galaxies and other celestial objects?

The expansion of the universe causes galaxies and other celestial objects to move away from each other at an increasing rate. This means that the distance between these objects is getting larger over time.

3. What is the significance of the universe expanding faster than expected?

This discovery challenges our current understanding of the universe and its evolution. It also raises questions about the nature of dark energy, a mysterious force believed to be driving the acceleration of the universe's expansion.

4. Can the expansion of the universe be measured and predicted?

Yes, the expansion of the universe can be measured using various methods, such as the redshift of galaxies and the cosmic microwave background radiation. However, predicting the exact rate of expansion is still a topic of ongoing research and debate.

5. How does the theory of general relativity explain the expansion of the universe?

According to the theory of general relativity, the expansion of the universe is caused by the presence of dark energy, which is a form of energy that acts as a repulsive force on matter. This theory also explains how the expansion rate changes over time.

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