SPACE — The standard model of cosmology incorporates the Big Bang theory which is the main theory explaining how the universe was created. But some scientists might say that we are now experiencing a crisis in cosmology.
Now, new research is calling that standard model into question. On January 22, 2024, the Chinese Academy of Sciences said that its researchers had measured the motion of satellite galaxies around a large galaxy group.
The scientists’ findings suggest that the universe may be younger than predicted by standard models. The new study analyzes the motion of pairs of satellite galaxies around large galaxy groups.
The results suggest that the universe may be younger than predicted by standard models of cosmology. Scientists publish their peer-reviewed research in journals Nature Astronomy on January 22, 2024.
Standard model of cosmology
The standard model of cosmology states that the universe began with an explosion, followed by the formation of small structures. These structures then merge into larger structures. Eventually, large galaxy clusters form spider web-like structures.
As the universe ages, large structures show less activity. Observing the motion of small satellite galaxies around larger galaxy groups provides useful insights for astronomers.
By modeling the motion of these satellite galaxies, they can infer how these structures formed and gain information about their ages. They found that computer models and real observations of the universe did not match.
Satellite galaxy pair
Scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences used the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) to track the motion of satellite pairs around a large group of galaxies. They spotted pairs of satellites that are on opposite sides of a large galaxy group from our line of sight.
The researchers analyzed differences in the speed of satellites from the central group of galaxies. What they found was an excess of satellite pairs.
Team leader Qi Guo of the Chinese Academy of Sciences said the excess of correlated satellite pairs suggests the presence of satellite galaxies that have recently accreted or fallen.
The keyword here is just. New computer simulations also show these advantages.
However, real-life observations do not show the same magnitude of excess. The discrepancy between simulations and observations suggests that large galaxy groups are younger in the real universe.
This study shows that the standard model of cosmology is still in the process of being developed. Author Qing Gu said that because the ages of large galaxy groups can be closely related to the age of the universe, these findings ultimately suggest a younger age of the universe than scientists previously believed.
2024-01-29 03:15:00
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