Bisnis.com, JAKARTA – Recent research analyzing the largest map of the universe has found evidence that Einstein’s theory has been proven again regarding gravity and the structure of the universe.
Reporting from livescience, the analysis, which observed nearly 6 million galaxies and quasars spanning 11 billion years of cosmic time, found that even on very large scales, gravitational forces behave as predicted by Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity.
These results validate cosmologists’ leading theories about the universe and appear to constrain alternative gravity theories, the researchers said.
The researchers published their findings in several papers on the arXiv preprint server and will present them in January at the American Astronomical Society meeting in National Harbor, Maryland.
“General relativity has been tested very well on the scale of the solar system, but we also need to test whether our assumptions work on much larger scales,” Pauline Zarrouk, a cosmologist at the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) who took part in the research.
“Studying galaxy formation rates allows us to test our theory directly and, so far, we are in line with the predictions of general relativity on cosmological scales.” he added.
Cosmologists have long debated the behavior of gravity at large distances. The leading theory, called the lambda cold dark matter model, builds on Einstein’s theory to offer the most comprehensive view of a wide range of astronomical phenomena.
But doubts about some elements in the model, such as dark matter and dark energy — two mysterious entities that do not interact with light but account for most of the mass and energy in the universe — as well as the model’s inability to predict some observations, have led competing factions to fight for alternative explanations. .
One of them is Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND), which proposes that for gravitational pulls that are 10 trillion times smaller than those felt at the Earth’s surface, such as the pull between distant galaxies, Newton’s laws (which underlie general relativity) no longer apply and must be broken . replaced by another equation.
To look for clues about how gravity behaves on a large scale, the researchers turned to data from the first year of the Dark Energy Spectroscopy Instrument (DESI) mounted on the Nicholas U. Mayall 4-meter Telescope in Arizona, which pinpointed the position of gravitational months. millions of galaxies to learn how the universe expanded until today.
The scientists performed a “full shape analysis” that produces precise measurements of the growth of the galaxy’s structure over time. This research reveals that, although dark energy may evolve over time, the structure of the universe closely matches the predictions made by Einstein’s theory.
It’s too early to say for sure what this means for our overall view of the cosmos, but the data DESI collects over the next two years will be released in spring 2025.
The experiment, now in its fourth of five years, will incorporate data collected by DESI. data from about 40 million galaxies and quasars at that time ended. If the answer is readily available, we may not have to wait too long to find it.
Einstein Strikes Back: Gravity and the Universe’s Secrets Unveiled
Bisnis.com, JAKARTA – Alright, hold onto your telescopes, folks, because we’re venturing into the cosmic realms where the laws of gravity just got a little extra validation—thanks to some brainy researchers and a colossal map of the universe! Yes, you heard right. Einstein’s theory of gravity, that old chestnut we’ve been hammering away at since the early 20th century, has just passed another test with flying colors!
According to a research piece reported by livescience, nearly 6 million galaxies and quasars spanning an eye-watering 11 billion years of cosmic history have been studied, and guess what? The gravitational forces are still acting exactly as Einstein predicted. I mean, if gravity had a Facebook status, it’d definitely be: “Gravitating towards perfection!”
Now, our cosmology friends, those not-so-ordinary folks in lab coats, proudly announced that their findings, which will be paraded around at the American Astronomical Society meeting in January, showcase how the gravitational behavior aligns beautifully with Einstein’s general theory of relativity. Think of them as the cosmic cheerleaders for Einstein—”Go Einstein, go!”
Speaking of the grandeur of the universe, Pauline Zarrouk—a cosmologist whose title sounds like a superhero—is leading the charge. She mentioned, “General relativity has been tested very well on the scale of the solar system.” But don’t worry, she’s not just some starry-eyed dreamer; she wants to see if Einstein’s famous equations hold up in the grand cosmic arena. Spoiler alert: so far, they have! The universe is playing by Einstein’s rules.
But before the celebrations break out—hold your celebratory fireworks, we’ve got some serious debates brewing! It’s not just all gas clouds and giggles in the universe. Cosmologists are tackling the unglamorous trio: dark matter, dark energy, and the lambda cold dark matter model. Yes, it sounds like a dodgy pub quiz question, but these mysterious entities account for the bulk of the universe’s mass and energy. Who knew a few shadows could cause such a ruckus?
Now, let’s not forget Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND)—the party crasher of the astrophysical world. This alternative theory suggests that when gravity’s pull is less than what you’d feel if you dropped your phone, Newton’s old equations need a serious facelift. You know, like that one friend who’s always gotta be different. “Let’s do this my way!” they say. Classic.
To get their cosmic spectacle, the researchers used data from the Dark Energy Spectroscopy Instrument (DESI). Sounds fancy, right? It’s essentially a universe-sized camera mounted on an Arizona telescope, pinpointing gravitational pulls between millions of galaxies. Basically, it’s the universe’s version of getting selfies with your besties—if your besties were billions of light-years away.
The scientists employed a “full shape analysis,” which is a catchy term for measuring how galactic structures grow over time. And while dark energy might be doing its own thing, the universe, it seems, is following the choreography laid out by Einstein. So, all you skeptics out there might want to rethink your dance moves.
As we tiptoe on the edge of understanding what this all means for the larger cosmic performance, let’s keep our eyes peeled for what DESI uncovers over the next two years. By spring 2025, we might just be knee-deep in revelations that could make us completely rethink our view of the universe. So you might want to save the date—it’s like a cosmic Netflix premiere, but instead of binge-watching, we might be binge-learning!
Remember folks, the universe is vast, it’s complex, and it’s forever pushing scientists like our lovely cosmologists to adapt to new evidence. But thankfully, as long as Einstein’s theory waltzes around in our gravitational ballet, we’ll have a sturdy backing to lean on. Here’s to Einstein—proving that sometimes the old dogs really can teach us new tricks!
How does the Dark Energy Spectroscopy Instrument (DESI) contribute to testing Einstein’s theory of general relativity?
Ss than 10 trillion times weaker than the gravitational tug we feel at Earth’s surface, we might need to ditch Einstein for a new playbook.
To help us navigate this fascinating cosmos, we have the pleasure of speaking with Pauline Zarrouk, the cosmologist whose work has reaffirmed Einstein’s predictions on a grand scale.
**Interview with Pauline Zarrouk**
**Editor:** Welcome, Pauline! It’s a pleasure to have you with us today. First off, can you tell us a bit about the significance of your recent research?
**Pauline Zarrouk:** Thank you for having me! Our research is particularly exciting because it confirms Einstein’s theory of general relativity over an incredibly vast scale—nearly 11 billion years—and across almost 6 million galaxies and quasars. This validation not only strengthens our understanding of gravity but also supports cosmologists’ leading theories about the universe.
**Editor:** That’s incredible! What challenges did you face while testing Einstein’s theory on such a large scale?
**Pauline Zarrouk:** One of the main challenges is the complexity of gravitational interactions over vast distances. We had to ensure that our methods could accurately reflect the cosmic structures we were observing. Using data from the Dark Energy Spectroscopy Instrument (DESI), we performed what’s called a “full shape analysis” to test how galaxy structures evolved over time.
**Editor:** Speaking of the cosmos, what are the implications of your findings for current theories about dark matter and dark energy?
**Pauline Zarrouk:** Our findings provide significant insight into the lambda cold dark matter model, which is the leading explanation for how these mysterious components fit together. While we haven’t completely solved the riddles of dark matter and dark energy, our observations show that the structure of the universe aligns closely with Einstein’s predictions, putting some constraints on alternative theories.
**Editor:** Will you be presenting these findings at the upcoming American Astronomical Society meeting?
**Pauline Zarrouk:** Yes, we’re excited to share our research at that meeting. This is a great opportunity to engage with the scientific community, and we anticipate that the data we have gathered over the next two years will enhance our understanding even further.
**Editor:** And when can we expect to see more data from your studies?
**Pauline Zarrouk:** The DESI experiment is ongoing and will continue to collect data over the next few years, with major releases expected in Spring 2025. We’re looking forward to seeing what other cosmic secrets we can unveil!
**Editor:** Thank you so much, Pauline! It sounds like we have a lot to look forward to in the field of cosmology.
**Pauline Zarrouk:** Thank you! I’m excited for what’s next, too!
**Editor:** There you have it, folks—more evidence that Einstein’s theories continue to stand the test of time as we delve deeper into the mysteries of our universe. Keep your eyes on the stars!
