. 24/7 Space News .
TIME AND SPACE
Universe Is More Homogeneous Than Expected
by Staff Writers
Amsterdam, Netherlands (SPX) Aug 03, 2020

stock illustration of universal cosmic web

New results from the Kilo-Degree Survey (KiDS) show that the universe is nearly 10 percent more homogeneous than the standard model of cosmology (Lambda-cold dark matter) predicts. The latest KiDS map was made with the OmegaCAM on ESO's VLT Survey Telescope at Cerro Paranal in Northern Chile. A group of astronomers led from institutes in the Netherlands, Scotland, England and Germany have described the KiDS-1000 result in five articles, the last three of which appeared online last week. They have been submitted for publication in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics.

The new KiDS map covers about 1,000 square degrees, which equates to 5% of the extragalactic sky. 31 million galaxies were used for the analysis. The galaxies are up to 10 billion light-years away, which means their light was emitted when our universe was less than half its present age.

KiDS uses the galaxies to map the distribution of matter in the universe. This is done through weak gravitational lensing, where the light from distant galaxies is slightly deflected by the gravitational effect of large amounts of matter, such as galaxy clusters. That effect is used to determine the "clumpiness" of the distribution of the galaxies. This concerns all matter in the universe, of which more than 90 percent consists of invisible dark matter plus invisible tenuous gas.

Over time, the gravity of matter in the universe makes it less and less homogeneous; areas with a little more mass than average attract matter from their surroundings, so increasing the contrast. Meanwhile the expansion of the universe counteracts this growth. Both of these processes are gravity driven and are therefore of great importance for testing the standard model of cosmology, which fairly accurately predicts how density variations increase with the age of the universe.

However, the new KiDS results show a discrepancy: the universe is nearly 10 percent more homogeneous than the standard model predicts.

Dr. Marika Asgari, from the University of Edinburgh, who co-led the analysis, calls the result "intriguing." "The standard model of cosmology relies on rather mysterious physics that we call dark matter and dark energy. Scientists have to test this remarkable model in as many ways as possible, and that is exactly what we are doing."

The KiDS results may indicate small cracks in the standard model, just like another discrepancy in the expansion rate of the universe, the so-called Hubble constant. Dr. Tilman Troster (University of Edinburgh): "The question is whether these can be solved with a small adjustment, for example with a somewhat more complex behavior of dark matter than the simple hypothesis of totally inert 'cold dark matter.'"

Leiden professor and KiDS lead Koen Kuijken cannot say whether this will eventually lead to a fundamentally different theory, for example replacing Einstein's general theory of relativity with a new one. "For now, I consciously try to stay away from possible theoretical interpretations, and focus on the measurements and how to make them as accurate as possible."

Prof. Hendrik Hildebrandt (Ruhr University Bochum) adds: "As an observing cosmologist, you try to remain impartial and make the measurements as accurate as possible without theoretical prejudices. One thing is clear: we live in exciting times!"

The team will need more data to be absolutely sure about the results. "There is a 1 in a 1,000 chance that our findings could be caused by us just having looked at a particularly unusual part of the universe," says Dr. Benjamin Joachimi (University College London)."

In one to two years, the final 'legacy' KiDS map will be published, 30% larger than the current one. It will include all KiDS observations.

Two other projects, one American and one Japanese, are also working on similar analyses from other observatories. From 2022, the baton will be passed on to even more powerful telescopes: the Rubin telescope, which will be more than 60 times as powerful as the VST, and the Euclid satellite, which will take much sharper images from outside the atmosphere than is possible from the ground.

Edinburgh Professor Catherine Heymans, says: "With these two new facilities, we will chart the dark matter across the full sky and confront a wide range of different theoretical models to truly understand the mysterious dark side of our universe."

Research paper


Related Links
Kilo-Degree Survey (KiDS)
Understanding Time and Space


Thanks for being there;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5+ Billed Monthly


paypal only
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal


TIME AND SPACE
Cosmic tango between the very small and the very large
University Park PA (SPX) Jul 30, 2020
While Einstein's theory of general relativity can explain a large array of fascinating astrophysical and cosmological phenomena, some aspects of the properties of the universe at the largest-scales remain a mystery. A new study using loop quantum cosmology - a theory that uses quantum mechanics to extend gravitational physics beyond Einstein's theory of general relativity - accounts for two major mysteries. While the differences in the theories occur at the tiniest of scales - much smaller than ev ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

TIME AND SPACE
A QandA on the Demo-2 mission

Power, bones, bubbles and other Weightless action on the Space Station

Roscosmos teases names of next year's ISS tourist group flight

Take Me to Mars

TIME AND SPACE
Russia wants to return to Venus, build reusable rocket

SpaceX completes test flight of Mars rocket prototype

SpaceX launched 10th Starlink batch

Spaceflight and Benchmark sign green propulsion deal for Sherpa launcher

TIME AND SPACE
NASA scientists leverage carbon-measuring instrument for Mars studies

Rice researchers use InSight for deep Mars measurements

NASA's MAVEN observes Martian night sky pulsing in ultraviolet light

Lava tubes on Mars and the Moon are so wide they can host planetary bases

TIME AND SPACE
China seeks payload ideas for mission to moon, asteroid

China marching to Mars for humanity's better shared future

From the Moon to Mars: China's long march in space

Tianwen 1 probe to soon blast off for Mars

TIME AND SPACE
Exolaunch awarded contracts to deliver Swarm Satellites into orbit on Falcon 9

SES selects SpaceX for launch of new C-Band satellites

SES selects ULA to launch two C-Band satellites to accelerate C-Band clearing

Hisdesat And XTAR Complete Transaction For XTAR-EUR Satellite

TIME AND SPACE
Scientists find way to track space junk in daylight

At Aerospace: How Internships Went Virtual

First laser detection of space debris in daylight

Transforming e-waste into a strong, protective coating for metal

TIME AND SPACE
Hubble uses Earth as a Proxy for identifying oxygen on exoplanets

VLBA finds planet orbiting small, cool star

Surprisingly dense exoplanet challenges planet formation theories

Deep sea microbes dormant for 100 million years are hungry and ready to multiply

TIME AND SPACE
Ammonia sparks unexpected, exotic lightning on Jupiter

Shallow Lightning and Mushballs reveal ammonia to Juno scientists

NASA's Webb Telescope Will Study Jupiter, Its Rings, and Two Intriguing Moons

NASA Juno takes first images of Ganymede's North Pole









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.