Discussion: Hubble Helps Measure the Pace of ...

[Fraser]

SUMMARY: The Hubble Space Telescope has further confirmed the existence of "Dark Energy" - a mysterious force that seems to be accelerating the expansion of the Universe. The giant space observatory examined some of the most distant supernovae ever seen and found that this force seems to have been acting at a constant rate for as far back as astronomers can see. This is good news. If dark energy continued to accelerate, some physicists believe the fabric of the Universe could tear apart in an event called "The Big Rip".

What do you think about this story? Post your comments below.

[John LaCour]

I'm still not convinced that the Inflationary Big Bang model of cosmology is correct. I'm also not convinced that the Cosmic Microwave Background studies that place the age of the universe at 13.7 billion years are correct either. These rely on several assumptions that we still can't prove, and are based on General Relativity and Quantum Mechanics, which are mutually exclusive. Every time we seem to find "The Answer", a new question seems to bring it down. If we ever find a real example of "dark matter" (and not just white dwarf stars and intergalactic gas), I may change my mind, but having to invent things we've never seen and forces we've never felt to explain the universe seems to be a bit of a stretch.

[Fraser]

Well, the search for these answers is helping fund some pretty cool new instruments and observatories. There's enough mystery there to keep astronomers mulling it over for years.

The thing I like about the discovery of dark energy is that it was a total surprise. Astronomers were expecting to find the exact opposite; they wanted to determine the exact rate the expansion of the Universe was slowing down.

It's one of those situation when nature suprises you and reminds you that you shouldn't make too many assumptions about the ways things work.

[Prime]

As long as the false concept of the Big-Bang is adhered to by the Cosmologists and paricle physicists, they'll get the results of their ways.

More confusion, that doesn't make sense, but is accepted as gospel.

Prime

[Hiroshi]

Originally posted by Prime@Feb 20 2004, 11:41 PM
As long as the false concept of the Big-Bang is adhered to by the Cosmologists and paricle physicists, they'll get the results of their ways.

More confusion, that doesn't make sense, but is accepted as gospel.

Prime

ok, so what is your concept? instead of big bang?

[setiman]

Originally posted by Prime@Feb 20 2004, 11:41 PM
As long as the false concept of the Big-Bang is adhered to by the Cosmologists and paricle physicists, they'll get the results of their ways.

More confusion, that doesn't make sense, but is accepted as gospel.

Prime

Not to worry, Prime.

The really delightful thing about the scientific method is the whole scheme of their hypotheses. We postulate a condition or theory and set about to disprove it. In the process we often find bits of truth. What the Universe really turns out to be may never be conclusively defined because it is always changing, but the laws that govern it are being eaked out a sentence or two at a time. I think it is fun, but we should not be confused in thinking these guys believe all they hypothesize.

B) setiman

[Nick4]

I think that this dark force is mistereous.

[setiman]

Well, you are right. It is mysterious. They call it the dark force because: (a) it has no light, and (B) it appears to be a powerful magnetic/anti-magnetic force. I mean maybe this dark force is nothing more than the back side of a black hole. It sucks it in at one end and blows it away on the other.

I am not clowning, I think the two forces are definitely related.

Here is a mind blower. There are many, many Universes. We just happen to be in one of them. Maybe the black holes are the pathway from Universe to Universe.
Yeah, I know, this is pure science fiction - right now. Maybe not by next week, huh?? When you consider this, keep in mind that every element on the Periodic Table is sort of a planetary system, and the molecules they combine to form (some very complex) could be viewed as specialized mini-universes.

Ain't science beautiful??

:unsure: setiman