One Number Shows Why Our Concept Of The Universe Is Fundamentally Wrong

[Riddick]

There's a puzzling mystery going on in the universe. The situation has been called a "crisis" and centers on what's known as the Hubble constant.

Named for astronomer Edwin Hubble, this unit describes how fast the universe is expanding at different distances from Earth. Using data from the European Space Agency's (ESA) Planck satellite, scientists estimate the rate to be 46,200 mph per million light-years. But calculations using pulsating stars called Cepheids suggest it is 50,400 mph per million light-years.

If the first number is right, it means scientists have been measuring distances to faraway objects in the universe wrong for many decades. But if the second is correct, then researchers might have to accept the existence of exotic, new physics. Astronomers, understandably, are pretty worked up about this discrepancy.

What is a layperson supposed to make of this situation? And just how important is this difference, which to outsiders looks minor? For the answers to these and other questions, check out the full Live Science story

[Doka]

None of the Above