Scientists from the Universities of Bonn and St. Andrews have proposed a groundbreaking solution to the “Hubble tension” – a long-standing dispute regarding the rate at which the universe is expanding. The researchers suggest that by utilizing an alternative theory of gravity known as modified Newtonian dynamics (MOND), the inconsistencies in the measured values of the Hubble-Lemaitre constant can be resolved.
The expansion of the universe causes galaxies to move away from one another, with the speed of this movement being proportional to the distance between them. The Hubble-Lemaitre constant, a crucial parameter in cosmology, is used to calculate the velocity at which galaxies are moving apart.
However, different measurement techniques have resulted in contradictory values for this constant, leading to the Hubble tension. Recent studies on type 1a supernovae, which are exploding stars, have yielded a different value for the constant compared to previous calculations. This new value suggests that the universe is expanding faster within a radius of approximately three billion light-years, relative to prior understanding.
To account for this discrepancy, the researchers propose the existence of local “under-densities,” areas where there is a relatively low concentration of matter within a given region of space, similar to an air bubble in a cake. These under-densities are not accounted for by the standard model of cosmology, which assumes an even distribution of matter throughout the universe.
In contrast, the modified theory of gravity, MOND, accurately predicts the existence of these under-densities and suggests that irregularities in the distribution of matter are responsible for the deviations in the measured values of the Hubble-Lemaitre constant. If MOND’s assumptions about gravity prove correct, the Hubble tension would vanish, and there would be a single constant describing the expansion of the universe.
This research opens up new pathways for understanding the nature of our universe and resolving one of cosmology’s most puzzling problems. By challenging conventional theories and introducing modified Newtonian dynamics, scientists hope to shed light on the mysteries of the cosmos.
Stay tuned to Jala News for further updates on this groundbreaking study and other scientific breakthroughs that shape our understanding of the universe.
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