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Doubts about basic assumption for the expanding universe

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posted on Apr, 10 2020 @ 07:38 AM
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A study by the Universities of Bonn and Harvard using data from the satellite-based Chandra and XMM-Newton telescopes has determined that the universe is not expanding equally in all directions; if this holds up it really will be a big deal for Cosmology . The expansion rate has been based off of the known/estimated brightness of a certain class of stars. Using both of the mentioned telescopes they are using X-rays emitted by galaxies for their new measurements. The article is rather long but the bottom line is some parts of the universe is not expanding as fast as other parts. Rambling article but maybe a few at ATS will find it interesting.


Until recently, it was thought that this increase in size was occurring evenly in all directions, as with a good yeast dough. Astrophysicists call this “isotropy”. Many calculations on the fundamental properties of the universe are based on this assumption. It is possible that they are all wrong – or at least, inaccurate – thanks to compelling observations and analyses of the scientists from the Universities of Bonn and Harvard.

For they have put the isotropy hypothesis to the test for the first time with a new method that allows more reliable statements than before. With an unexpected result: According to this method, some areas in space expand faster than they should, while others expand more slowly than expected. “In any case, this conclusion is suggested by our measurements,” states Konstantinos Migkas, from the Argelander Institute for Astronomy at the University of Bonn.

www.uni-bonn.de...



posted on Apr, 10 2020 @ 08:07 AM
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a reply to: 727Sky

It's an interesting if not mind bending theory , I wonder what effect on time the different expansion rates would cause in the different regions , if any.


The third possibility is the most serious: What if the universe is not isotropic at all? What if -- metaphorically speaking -- the yeast in the galactic raisin roll is so unevenly distributed that it quickly bulges in some places while it hardly grows at all in other regions? Such an anisotropy could, for example, result from the properties of the mysterious "dark energy," which acts as an additional driving force for the expansion of the universe. However, a theory is still missing that would make the behavior of the Dark Energy consistent with the observations. "If we succeed in developing such a theory, it could greatly accelerate the search for the exact nature of this form of energy," Migkas is certain.


We could live in a lumpy Universe , bubbles in the Cosmic froth.



posted on Apr, 10 2020 @ 08:51 AM
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a reply to: 727Sky

Personally, I believe the edges of the universe are infinite.

That someone actually believes that can get accurate measurements at the farthest limits of mankind's ability to detect matter/energy ... priceless.

One day we'll be able to 'see' farther. Hope that happens in my lifetime. That'll be a breakthrough!!



posted on Apr, 10 2020 @ 10:16 AM
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Well if there is a "end" to it.. what is behind it, if nothing .. what is the nothing, and what is beyond the nothing..
The size of the universe have driven many people to madness.



posted on Apr, 10 2020 @ 11:34 AM
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a reply to: Spacespider

I always liked the idea it is expanding faster as we are able to see farther. What if consciousness is creating it. I have read a few papers that suggest consciousness can have an effect on our environment.

Probably way off the mark there. But you never know.



posted on Apr, 10 2020 @ 05:43 PM
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originally posted by: 727Sky
The expansion rate has been based off of the known/estimated brightness of a certain class of stars.
I've seen data for type 1a supernovae, a type of exploding star with a brightness in a limited range, which show how the expansion of the universe is accelerating. Since we know how bright they are, we think we are able to determine how far away they are with a reasonable degree of accuracy.


Using both of the mentioned telescopes they are using X-rays emitted by galaxies for their new measurements.
Yes but I'm not sure they have as many variables identified as for the type 1a supernovae. They say in the abstract that

Several X-ray and cluster-related effects that could potentially explain these anisotropies were examined, but none did so.

So they thought of some things, and examined those, but did they think of everything? They don't claim to have done that; maybe something they haven't thought of is affecting the results. It's not the only study of isotropy, this paper from 2016 using cosmic microwave background temperature and polarization data from Planck says the data show only a chance of 1 in 121,000 that it's not isotropic:

How isotropic is the Universe?

Including all degrees of freedom simultaneously for the first time, anisotropic expansion of the Universe is strongly disfavoured, with odds of 121,000:1 against.

So there's at least one paper suggesting anisotropic expansion, and at least one other paper saying that's strongly disfavoured. They can't both be right, unless the data in one paper is a 1 in 121000 fluke but it seems more likely some variable might be overlooked in one study or the other.

It's not the first time apparently contradictory findings have been published and it won't be the last, so it will be interesting to see how this "discrepancy" or "tension" as it's sometimes called, is resolved.

edit on 2020410 by Arbitrageur because: clarification



posted on Apr, 10 2020 @ 07:23 PM
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a reply to: 727Sky

interesting



posted on Apr, 10 2020 @ 11:11 PM
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But what does it mean...?!?...



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