Why the universe isn't just expanding, but speeding up
In short: We know the universe is growing, but discovering that its expansion is actually accelerating required a clever cosmic trick. This video explains how astronomers use specific stellar explosions to map out the history of our universe's growth.
To understand acceleration, scientists must measure how the recession velocity of galaxies changes over time. Because we cannot observe this directly in real-time, researchers rely on Type Ia supernovas as "standard candles." Since these supernovae have a known intrinsic brightness, they allow astronomers to calculate precise distances across vast reaches of space.
By comparing these standard candles at different distances, scientists identified that the expansion is not slowing down due to gravity alone. Instead, it is accelerating—a phenomenon linked to the mysterious influence of dark energy.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: How Do We Know The Universe Is ACCELERATING?
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