NE of the biggest mysteries in science – dark energy doesn't actually exist, according to researchers looking to solve the riddle of how the Universe is expanding.
For the past 100 years, physicists have generally assumed that the cosmos is growing equally in all directions. They employed the concept of dark energy as a placeholder to explain unknown physics they couldn't understand, but the contentious theory has always had its problems.
Now a team of physicists and astronomers at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand, are challenging the status quo, using improved analysis of supernovae light curves to show that the Universe is expanding in a more varied, "lumpier" way.
The new evidence supports the "timescape" model of cosmic expansion, which doesn't have a need for dark energy because the differences in stretching light aren't the result of an accelerating Universe, but instead a consequence of how we calibrate time and distance.
It takes into account that gravity slows time, so an ideal clock in empty space ticks faster than inside a galaxy. The model suggests that a clock in the Milky Way would be about 35 per cent slower than the same one at an average position in large cosmic voids, meaning billions more years would have passed in voids. This would in turn allow more expansion of space, making it seem like the expansion is getting faster when such vast empty voids grow to dominate the Universe.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Bright spot as zero malaria cases in 122 districts across country in '23, says Centre
INDIA is taking steady strides towards a malaria-free nation with as many as 122 districts reporting zero malaria cases in 2023, according to Union Health Ministry officials on Wednesday.
Arms purchase up, yet Army faces barrel crunch
AT the time when the Indian Army is modernising its offensive capabilities, specifically in the Artillery and the Armoured Regiments, a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) audit exercise has reported \"shortfall of barrels and breech mechanisms ranging from 30-100 per cent of the production capacity\" during 2015-22. A delay in the supply of ammunition has also been noticed.
Arunish Chawla named new revenue secretary
In a major bureaucratic reshuffle, the Centre on Wednesday appointed Vineet Joshi, chief secretary of ethnic violence-hit Manipur, as the higher education secretary and senior IAS officer Arunish Chawala as the revenue secretary, according to a statement from the government.
Naidu flags Andhra issues during meeting with Modi
ANDHRA Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday called Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the capital to discuss issues related to the state.
Committed to Viksit Bharat goal
NDA allies back the two bills the government introduced for holding simultaneous elections
Deployment near home, couple getting same place posting part of CISF policy
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has rolled out a new liberal transfer policy for its personnel, allowing them to have choice-based postings including home district, same city postings for married couples in the force, and fixed scheduling of posting orders.
2 Decades On: Strides in Warning Systems
In the realm of disaster management, India stands tall as a global leader, thanks to its state-of-the-art Tsunami Early Warning System (TEWS) established in the wake of the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami that crashed ashore two decades ago to this day.
Biting Nails While Bidding Time on Biden
The last acts of the Biden administration aimed at Russian oil may affect India too. They can constrain the thriving India-Russia ties once Donald Trump takes office
Tollywood team to meet Revanth today
A delegation from the Telugu film industry, including actors, directors and producers, led by Telangana Film Development Corporation (TGFDC) Chairman Dil Raju will meet Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on Thursday at Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC), at 10 am.
Three Soldiers From Karnataka Among 5 Killed In J&K Accident
Of the five soldiers of the 11th Battalion of the Maratha Light Infantry who died after their vehicle fell into a gorge in Jammu and Kashmir's Balnoi area of Mendhar in Poonch sector on Tuesday, three hailed from Karnataka.