By 1995, most scientists had accepted the "Big Bang" theory based on theory and observation. The idea that the universe is getting bigger (expanding) was as certain as you are reading these words. And just as certain was the idea that after the initial Big Bang event, gravity would be slowing the rate of expansion. However, the world of scientific thought received a rude awakening.
After 10 years of intense research and observing distant supernova, two independent scientific teams (the Supernova Cosmology Project and the High Z Supernova Search Team Project) came to the same conclusion that the rate at which the universe is expanding is accelerating (getting bigger at a faster and ever faster rate). This idea was totally unexpected and is typically called the Accelerating Universe.
The response to this new science based discovery caused a great stir. Consider the following response from a scientist, who expresses his feelings after learning of the discovery.
"This universe is weird, it's creepy"
Brian P. Schmidt, Team Lead, High Z-SN Search Team
NOVA Documentary "Runaway Universe" pbs.org
[Search for "CREEPY" on the transcript]
The cover of Scientific American, January 1999 issue read, "New observations have smashed the old view of our universe. What now?
How do you know the universe is getting bigger and bigger at a faster pace?
To accept this idea, we must look at exploding stars and their light.
Below is a picture of an exploding star (called a supernova). In the far left picture we see the galaxy before the star explodes. In the middle picture we see the exploded star. Its light is very bright. (Brighter than the entire galaxy, not bigger). The light is so bright that it can be seen from the other side of the universe (very important). The far right picture shows that the light has faded away many months later.
How important is it to see an exploding star all the way across the visible universe?
Because exploding stars can be seen at such great distances, they reveal what the universe was like billions of years ago. By mapping the distance to each exploding star as well as their speeds, we have learned that the universe is expanding at an ever faster rate.
To find this out, people who study the light from exploding stars look for three types of information.
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- What kind of atoms were created when the star exploded? (Important since exploding stars that produce the same atoms appear to produce the same level of brightness (called luminosity).
- How fast is the star moving away from us?
Each of these ideas is discussed in the quick pop ups to the right if you want to learn more. Or you can accept this knowledge and move on to what this really means.
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Why is the accelerating universe so important?
- First of all, some people used to think the universe would begin, then die, then start again. These people thought the universe went through a process as follows.
- The universe begins with a Big Bang (begin the cycle).
- The universe gets bigger for a time until it stops expanding.
- Then the universe collapses until it is crushed together (end the cycle).
- The process begins again with a new Big Bang (called the oscillating universe theory).
This series of events would happen over and over forever and ever. If that were true, the universe would not require a beginning.
However, the accelerating universe has destroyed this idea. We know the universe will keep expanding forever and ever. This means the universe will never get crushed together and then be able to start again.
- It is safe to conclude that the universe has existed only one time (as opposed to many times).
- It is safe to conclude that the universe had a single beginning (as opposed to many beginnings).
- It is safe to conclude that the universe is dying and will become a place of darkness, extreme cold, and loneliness.
The one and only universe that we know exists had a beginning and it will have an ending. It appears that our universe has been created one time. This idea brings about a series of important questions.
How did the universe come to be?
Was there a mother universe or did God create the universe?
Could there be other universes?
Some people think there are hidden universes. The next page will discuss the idea of hidden universes. However, please make sure you read the evidence that supports the universe is dying, which will lead you sequentially back the issue of whether there are hidden universes.
Scroll down to visit links to outside web sites/articles
about the Accelerating Universe
Evidence the Universe is Dying
Or
Go to Next Page
Are there unseen universes?
