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Is the universe twisted? A new check on a possible twist in the universe’s oldest light

Researchers developed a method to test cosmic uncertainty in the universe's oldest light, which could provide evidence for physics beyond the Standard Model. The team compared maps from different detectors to establish the calibration pattern, finding consistency with existing analysis.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 24, 2026

New theory reshapes quantum view of Big Bang

Researchers at the University of Waterloo have developed a new theory that suggests the universe's rapid early expansion could emerge naturally from a deeper, more complete theory of quantum gravity. This approach offers a unified picture that connects the earliest moments of the universe to modern cosmology.

SourceUniversity of Waterloo·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 26, 2026

Probing the early universe

Researchers use high-resolution computer simulations and terabytes of data to detect faint signals from the Epoch of Reionization, providing insights into galaxy formation. The study sets an upper limit on when the EoR likely ended, offering a new parameter for scientists to work with as they continue to investigate the early universe.

SourceNational Center for Supercomputing Applications·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateSep 30, 2024

Astrophysicists propose a new way of measuring cosmic expansion: lensed gravitational waves

Researchers propose using lensed gravitational waves from binary black holes to measure cosmic expansion. The method uses the delays between repeat appearances of these signals to encode the universe's expansion rate. This approach does not rely on knowing the exact locations or distances of binary black holes, making it a promising to...

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJun 30, 2023

Astronomers discover new link between dark matter and clumpiness of the universe

Researchers at the University of Toronto have made a breakthrough in understanding dark matter and its impact on the universe's large-scale structure. By analyzing cosmic microwave background data and galaxy clustering patterns, they suggest that ultra-light axion particles could account for the observed lack of clumpiness.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalJournal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 14, 2023

Can cosmic inflation be ruled out?

Astrophysicists have identified a potential test to rule out cosmic inflation, a theory explaining the universe's origins. The cosmic graviton background (CGB) could provide evidence against inflation if detected, and its impact on the early Universe's expansion rate could be measured by next-generation probes.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateNov 3, 2022

Shedding new light on dark matter

Physicists have developed a method to predict the composition of dark matter by analyzing cosmological signatures. The research uses big bang nucleosynthesis and cosmic microwave background radiation to identify specific categories of dark matter with masses between those of the electron and proton.

SourceNew York University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 6, 2022

Cosmological gravitational waves: A new approach to reach back to the Big Bang

A new study by the POLARBEAR collaboration provides a new correction algorithm that allows for almost double the amount of reliable data on Cosmological Gravitational Waves (CGWs), produced during Inflation in the early Universe. This enhances our understanding of the signal and brings us closer to observing CGWs.

SourceScuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·TypeObservational study·DateJun 6, 2022

New measurement of Hubble constant adds to cosmic mystery

A new measurement of the Hubble constant has been made using light from extremely distant galaxies, estimating a value of 76.8 kilometers per second per megaparsec. The result is comparable to previous estimates but differs significantly from other methods, sparking debate about potential new physics beyond our current understanding.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateOct 23, 2019

New survey hints at exotic origin for the Cold Spot

A new survey of galaxy redshifts finds no evidence of a supervoid causing the Cosmic Microwave Background's Cold Spot. The researchers suggest that smaller voids and galaxy clusters in the area may be responsible, but simulations of standard cosmology give only a 1-in-50 chance that the spot arose by chance.

SourceRoyal Astronomical Society·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateApr 25, 2017

Madly mapping the universe

Researchers have developed MADmap, a new software tool that improves the mapping of the cosmic microwave background by accounting for noise in the data. The software uses a special code to weight and account for colored noise, which is a known characteristic of bolometers used to measure radiation at certain wavelengths.