Our universe has been expanding since the beginning of time, almost 14 billion years ago following the big bang. But recent Hubble Space Telescope findings suggest that the universe is expanding much faster than previously thought. So, is the end of time nearer than expected?
Actually Gravity is responsible for binding everything together in the universe. In a place having lots of matter, the attractive forces of gravity are much greater in comparison to the repulsive forces of dark energy. But in Mostly Matter free space, the repulsive forces because of the dark energy are more significant than the attractive forces of gravity.
So because of this mysterious dark energy, the rate at which our universe is expanding has been increasing.
The latest data obtained from the hubble Space Telescope suggests that the expansion rate of the universe is 9% faster than expected.
A team from SH0ES (supernovae, H0, for the equation of state)- at Johns Hopkins University has obtained this important data after performing some measurements.
For this they analysed light from 70 stars in a nearby Galaxy known as the large magellanic cloud. On the basis of their observations they calculated how fast these stars are moving away from us.
A group of stars known as cepheids was particularly analysed by the team. Cepheids brighten and dim at regular intervals.
The team used a technique of measurement known as DASH. DASH is an acronym for Drift and Shift. With the help of this technique of measurement they could focus on more than one star at once. On contrary to this, images obtained from the hubble Space Telescope are result of one star observed every 90 minutes. This makes the process more time consuming in comparison to the DASH technique.
Scientists compared the results obtained from the standard Hubble measurements and the DASH measurement.
After Comparison, some discrepancy was found in terms of, how bright the cepheids actually were. Actually the brightness of a star depends on its closeness. Closer the star, more brighter it appears.
On the basis of these results scientists concluded that our universe is expanding at a faster rate than expected, as the stars were slightly farther than they thought.
Adam Riess, Bloomberg professor of Physics and astronomy at the Johns Hopkins University, nobel Laureate and the project's leader, said: "This is Not just two experiments disagreeing.
"We are measuring something fundamentally different. One is a measurement of how fast the universe is expanding today, as we see it.
“The other is a prediction based on the Physics of the early universe and on measurements of how fast it ought to be expanding.
"If these values don't agree, there becomes a very strong likelihood that we are missing something in the cosmological model that connects the two eras." So does
It mean that the end of the universe is nearer?
The universe will continue to expand until matter and energy are evenly spread throughout. It will cause the temperature of the universe to cool down to absolute zero.
Researchers think, when the repulsive forces of dark energy will overtake the attractive forces of the gravity, the rate of expansion of the universe will increase to very high level, untill its pace reaches the speed of light.
Although the universe is expanding at much faster rate and the end of the universe is nearer than previously thought but you need not to worry, as it would still take trillions of years to happen.
So friends what do you think? What will be the Ultimate fate of our universe? Will eventually, the expansion rate of the universe, reach to the speed of light. How long will it take the universe to end? You can share your valuable ideas in the comment section of this video.
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