Researchers confirm that something is stopping our universe's growth

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Physicists from the University of Michigan propose modifying the current cosmological model to address a significant conflict in observations related to the Universe's expanding size. The model, known as the flat ΛCDM concordance cosmology, describes the large-scale structure of the Universe, shaped by the interplay of dark energy and dark matter under the influence of gravity.

The expansion of the Universe is affected by dark energy, a mysterious force causing it to grow at an increasing rate. The researchers aim to reconcile discrepancies in measurements of the Hubble constant, which quantifies the expansion rate. Different methods, such as observing distant exploding stars and analysing the cosmic microwave background, yield inconsistent values for the Hubble constant, creating a long-standing puzzle.

Scientists revisit the concordance model, examining whether assumptions about the growth of the cosmic web, the large-scale structure of the Universe, may be contributing to the discrepancy. By comparing measurements related to ripples in the cosmic web, gravitational lensing events, and details in the cosmic microwave background, the researchers suggest that the cosmic web is growing slower than predicted by the model.

The observed differences become more pronounced as the researchers approach the present day, indicating a potential growth suppression in the cosmic web. The discrepancy could be attributed to systematic errors in measurement methods or the presence of new, late-time physics not accounted for in the standard model.

While the study does not identify a specific cause for the growth suppression, the researchers suggest that future measurements of the Universe's large-scale structure may provide insights into whether further exploration of this idea is warranted. The proposed modification to the model aims to resolve the tension between different measures of the Universe's accelerating expansion. It offers a new perspective on understanding the interplay of dark energy, dark matter, and gravity in shaping the cosmos over its 13.7 billion-year existence.