New measurements of the universe’s expansion rate
The uncertainty of science: New measurements of the universe’s expansion rate are apparently in agreement with some previous measurements but not with others.
The Hubble constant — the rate at which the Universe is expanding — is one of the fundamental quantities describing our Universe. A group of astronomers, the H0LiCOW collaboration, used the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope and other telescopes in space and on the ground to observe five galaxies in order to arrive at an independent measurement of the Hubble constant. The new measurement is completely independent of — but in excellent agreement with — other measurements of the Hubble constant in the local Universe that used Cepheid variable stars and supernovae as points of reference.
…However, the value measured by Suyu and her team, as well as those measured using Cepheids and supernovae, are different from the measurement made by the ESA Planck satellite. But there is an important distinction — Planck measured the Hubble constant for the early Universe by observing the cosmic microwave background. While the value for the Hubble constant determined by Planck fits with our current understanding of the cosmos, the values obtained by the different groups of astronomers for the local Universe are in disagreement with our accepted theoretical model of the Universe.
Both measurements are very precise, but they do not match, suggesting that there are some basic fundamentals here that astronomers simply do not yet understand.
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The uncertainty of science: New measurements of the universe’s expansion rate are apparently in agreement with some previous measurements but not with others.
The Hubble constant — the rate at which the Universe is expanding — is one of the fundamental quantities describing our Universe. A group of astronomers, the H0LiCOW collaboration, used the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope and other telescopes in space and on the ground to observe five galaxies in order to arrive at an independent measurement of the Hubble constant. The new measurement is completely independent of — but in excellent agreement with — other measurements of the Hubble constant in the local Universe that used Cepheid variable stars and supernovae as points of reference.
…However, the value measured by Suyu and her team, as well as those measured using Cepheids and supernovae, are different from the measurement made by the ESA Planck satellite. But there is an important distinction — Planck measured the Hubble constant for the early Universe by observing the cosmic microwave background. While the value for the Hubble constant determined by Planck fits with our current understanding of the cosmos, the values obtained by the different groups of astronomers for the local Universe are in disagreement with our accepted theoretical model of the Universe.
Both measurements are very precise, but they do not match, suggesting that there are some basic fundamentals here that astronomers simply do not yet understand.
Readers!
My annual February birthday fund-raising drive for Behind the Black is now over. Thank you to everyone who donated or subscribed. While not a record-setter, the donations were more than sufficient and slightly above average.
As I have said many times before, I can’t express what it means to me to get such support, especially as no one is required to pay anything to read my work. Thank you all again!
For those readers who like my work here at Behind the Black and haven't contributed so far, please consider donating or subscribing. My analysis of space, politics, and culture, taken from the perspective of an historian, is almost always on the money and ahead of the game. For example, in 2020 I correctly predicted that the COVID panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Every one of those 2020 conclusions has turned out right.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
Halton Arp
Thus, we know the age of the universe with great precision but not with great accuracy.
Steve-
Have to disagree with Arp, although he raises some good questions.
As was noted in his obituary write-up, “He took a whole Cosmology with him when he died.”
Personally, I have problems with Bang Theory & Lambda-CDM myself, (but I only play a Cosmologist on the interweb) but it does appear to explain a lot.
(I also think we are on the verge of a major paradigm-shift but don’t think it will morph to Arp type stuff.)
I’d pivot slightly and recommend an enlightening lecture from Dr. Susskind, (although I’m not a string-theory guy myself.)
Supersymmetry and Grand Unification (1 of 2)
https://youtu.be/Ep-8P64Uoiw
(1:41:21)
Edward–
Most excellent!
Wayne – i second the recommendation of Dr. Susskind’s lectures. His whole Theoretical Minimum series is well worth viewing.
Ben K–
Cool! Have all Susskind’s class-lectures downloaded and try to watch & re-watch them intermittently–I pick up new stuff every time, and the Math is becoming more familiar.
(Not a string-theory guy myself, but do find Susskind to be a ‘good explainer.’ And he’s the Master of Chalkboard’s!))
-Have seen the Theoretical Minimum lectures, and that topic is pretty complex.
My favorite super-genius, is Dr. Roger Penrose. (Master of the Overhead Projector) He’s been on a book tour promoting his new book — no new revelations from him, but very enlightening stuff.
>”Fashion, Faith and Fantasy in the New Physics of the Universe.”
Multiple videos from him at YouTube, discussing it.
I of course didn’t mean to imply Mr. Arp had all the right answers, I do think he pointed out some things that need to be re-examined.
Steve m–
Absolutely. I totally forgot about Arp until you reminded me of him, so… good deal.
>It’s necessary to keep all these people (and their theories,) on their toes! (dead or alive)
I don’t mean to imply Dr. Penrose, has all the right answers, either.
Personally I do find his Conformal Cyclical Cosmology stuff to be fascinating.
He doesn’t like the “inflation” aspect of Bang Theory
a multiple repeat from me–
Sir Roger Penrose,
“Aeons before the Big Bang”
(Copernicus Center Lecture 2010)
https://youtu.be/4YYWUIxGdl4
(1:57:35)
( I could watch Penrose play with overhead-projectors, all day long.)
Tangentially off-thread, but I must shill for almost anything from the Silicon Valley Astronomy Lecture series folks.
Excellent Public-Lectures
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-J3Rig6mrJhGECH-yVMwSg
Two recent lectures– on gravitational-waves & the science & non-science of Star Wars, are pretty good.
Related because this is about changing how “WE” see the universe and what the consciousness that perceives that universe is defined as:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/strange-new-world-scientists-create-human-pig-embryo_us_588ab443e4b0303c0752e5ce?ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009
This experiment intersects with our discussion of the “Kara” robot / android and what consciousness and what being human may become.
Cotour–
Saw that…. it’s “creepy.”
I concur with Edwards post, we need better instruments to know more about where the ends of the worlds are, most all of this is just a wild a** guess!
Joe-
I would also concur.
A new telescope in Hawaii, would be a good start.
Wayne, Joe, and Edward: Though I admit to many concerns and doubts about the James Webb Space Telescope, it is precisely the instrument we need to study deep space cosmology such as the Hubble Constant. This is what it was designed to do, and when launched, this will be its primary task, assuming of course it works as planned.
My comment, while intended to be humorous, was also intended to point out the uncertainty of science, the need to verify previous conclusions, and the confusion many people have between precision and accuracy. Usually I am not that succinct on even a single topic.