'Something is seriously wrong': James Webb reveals shocking mystery in Universe’s expansion

Produced by: BT Desk

Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, B. Frye (University of Arizona), R. Windhorst (Arizona State University), S. Cohen (Arizona State University), J. D’Silva (University of Western Australia, Perth), A. Koekemoer (Space Telescope Science Institute), J. Summers (Arizona State University).

Supernova discovery

James Webb spotted an ancient supernova magnified and split into three points of light through gravitational lensing, revealing critical data on the universe's expansion.

Hubble tension

The supernova study adds evidence to the ongoing Hubble tension, where measurements show differing rates of cosmic expansion, suggesting flaws in our understanding

Credit: ESA

Conflicting rates

Astronomers found that distant measurements support current models, but nearby observations, like Cepheid stars, contradict them with faster expansion rates.

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Standard candles

Type Ia supernovae serve as "standard candles" for astronomers, providing a consistent measure of distances, essential for calculating the universe's expansion rate.

Gravitational lensing

A galaxy in front of the supernova bent and magnified its light, allowing scientists to study its behavior and add new data to the Hubble constant debate.

Credit: NASA, ESA & L. Calçada

Expansion puzzle

The universe's expansion appears inconsistent across distances, challenging current models that rely on a constant rate driven by dark energy.

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Cepheid variables

Closer measurements using Cepheid stars indicate a faster cosmic expansion, at odds with distant observations, deepening the mystery in cosmology.

Credit: NASA

Cosmic crisis

The ongoing discrepancy in measuring the universe's expansion, known as the Hubble tension, continues to suggest a major flaw in the standard cosmological model.

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Future observations

Astronomers plan to continue studying other supernova to gather more data, hoping to unravel the cosmic conundrum and refine our understanding of the universe's expansion.

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