Ancient galaxies help map how fast the universe expanded billions of years ago
In short: Astronomers observing a large sample of over 11,000 massive, red elliptical galaxies found new ways to measure the expansion rate of the universe. By treating these old galaxies as cosmic clocks, researchers were able to track changes in the Hubble parameter across nearly 8 billion years of history.
The study used the 'cosmic chronometer' method, which relies on the fact that these specific galaxies evolve predictably over time. By analyzing a spectral feature known as the 4000 Å break and using stellar population models, the team calculated how much the universe expanded between different points in its history.
The results provided eight new measurements of the expansion rate with a precision of 5–12%. While the data aligns well with current standard cosmological models, the study is limited by the systematic errors inherent in spectroscopic surveys and the reliance on theoretical models to calibrate galaxy ages.
Why it matters: By using old galaxies as clocks, scientists can more accurately map the history of our expanding universe.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Research: Moresco et al. (2012). Improved constraints on the expansion rate of the Universe up to z ∼ 1.1 from the spectroscopic evolution of cosmic chronometers. Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics.
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