The Hindu: Published on 12th Dec 2024:
Why in News?
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has confirmed that the universe is expanding at a faster rate than expected, corroborating findings previously made by the Hubble Space Telescope. This unexpected acceleration — known as the Hubble Tension — challenges our current understanding of the universe and has sparked further investigations into the mysterious roles of dark energy and dark matter.
What is Webb Telescope?
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is NASA's most advanced space telescope, launched in December 2021. It is designed to explore deep space with unprecedented precision by observing infrared light, which allows it to study ancient galaxies, distant stars, and cosmic phenomena that are otherwise invisible to other telescopes.
JWST is considered the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope.
Its primary goals include studying the formation of stars, galaxies, and planetary systems while exploring the origins of the universe.
Current Findings from Webb?
JWST data over two years confirm that the rate of the universe’s expansion is about 8% faster than predicted by current cosmological models.
This observation supports the previous findings of the Hubble Space Telescope, ruling out measurement errors or instrument flaws.
The faster expansion is inconsistent with existing theoretical models, indicating a knowledge gap in our understanding of the cosmos.
Scientists speculate that dark energy, dark matter, or exotic gravitational phenomena may explain the anomaly.
The findings suggest the need to potentially revise the current cosmological model to incorporate unknown factors.
How It Will Help to Understand Universe Expansion?
Validation of Hubble Tension: The consistent results from Webb and Hubble telescopes confirm that the Hubble Tension is real and not due to observational errors. This forces scientists to rethink existing theories about the universe's expansion.
Role of Dark Energy and Dark Matter: The findings underline the need to better understand dark energy (69% of the universe) and dark matter (27%), which are critical components influencing the universe's structure and evolution.
New Hypotheses: The anomaly may lead to revolutionary ideas such as modifications in the behavior of gravity, the presence of dark radiation, or previously unknown properties of neutrinos.
Improved Measurement Techniques: By using JWST's advanced capabilities, scientists accurately measured distances to galaxies using Cepheid stars as standard distance markers, strengthening their results.
In conclusion, Webb’s findings provide crucial data that challenge existing models of cosmology and open avenues for new theories to explain the accelerating expansion of the universe.
Summary:
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Why in News
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Webb Telescope confirms the universe is expanding faster than expected, validating Hubble’s data.
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What is Webb Telescope
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NASA’s advanced infrared space telescope for studying deep space and cosmic phenomena.
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Current Findings
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Universe's expansion rate is 8% faster; JWST rules out Hubble errors; dark energy and dark matter may explain it.
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Impact on Universe Study
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Confirms Hubble Tension, deepens understanding of dark matter/energy, and challenges current models.
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