Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: Alan McDougall on 11/06/2016 20:08:40

Title: Why might new measurements show the expansion of the universe is accelerating?
Post by: Alan McDougall on 11/06/2016 20:08:40

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/2086401-universe-expanding-faster-than-expected/

Astronomers have obtained the most precise measurement yet of how fast the universe is expanding, and it doesn’t agree with predictions based on other data and our current understanding of the physics of the cosmos.

The discrepancy—the universe is now expanding 9 percent faster than expected—means either that measurements of the cosmic microwave background radiation are wrong or that some unknown physical phenomenon is speeding up the expansion of space, the astronomers say.

Title: Re: Why might new measurements show the expansion of the universe is accelerating?
Post by: chris on 12/06/2016 09:53:34

That's a very well-written article, and an interesting observation. Although the fact that the authors themselves cannot explain it argues that we probably won't get an answer here! They speculate that there may be errors in the measurements of the cosmic microwave background radiation, or  another neutrino we don't know about is responsible.