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NDTV
09-07-2025
- Science
- NDTV
Is Earth In A Giant Cosmic Void? Why New Research Could Change Everything
In a discovery that could upend our understanding of the cosmos, scientists believe that Earth, along with the entire Milky Way, may be drifting near the centre of a massive cosmic void, an area unusually empty of galaxies and matter. Presented at the Royal Astronomical Society's National Astronomy Meeting, new research led by Dr Indranil Banik from the University of Portsmouth proposes that this "void", also known as an underdensity, could help solve one of astrophysics' biggest puzzles: the Hubble Tension, a long-standing discrepancy in measurements of the universe's rate of expansion. 'We showed that a void model is about one hundred million times more likely than a void-free model,' Dr Banik said, explaining that their data was based on 20 years of measurements of baryon acoustic oscillations – faint, frozen ripples in matter left over from the Big Bang, often described as the "sound" of the early universe. If true, this theory means we're sitting inside a cosmic bubble roughly a billion light-years wide and about 20% less dense than the average universe. This sparsity of matter could distort our view of how quickly galaxies are racing away, essentially tricking us into thinking the universe is expanding faster than it actually is. The idea of a local void is not new; scientists have debated it for decades, but it has remained controversial because it challenges the principle that the universe should be evenly spread out at large scales. However, Dr Banik's model, which incorporates redshift measurements and the latest Planck satellite data, offers compelling evidence that could shift mainstream scientific opinion. If confirmed, the implications are profound: not only would it reshape our understanding of cosmology, but it could also suggest that the "heat death" of the universe, when all energy is evenly spread and nothing happens anymore, might be much further in the future than previously believed. The research team plans to compare their void model with other measurements to further test its validity.
India Today
09-07-2025
- Science
- India Today
Is Earth sitting inside a giant hole in space? Astronomers make big discovery
Astronomers have proposed a groundbreaking theory that suggests Earth and the entire Milky Way galaxy may reside within a vast, mysterious hypothesis, unveiled at the Royal Astronomical Society's National Astronomy Meeting (NAM) 2025 in Durham, aims to address the long-standing issue of 'Hubble tension,' a discrepancy between the expected and observed expansion rates of the proven, this theory could redefine our understanding of the universe's true age, estimated at around 13.8 billion The concept of the Hubble constant, introduced by Edwin Hubble in 1929, measures the universe's expansion rate through the observation of celestial objects and their velocities as they move away from us. However, current models predict a slower expansion compared to actual observations, particularly in the local universe."A potential solution to this inconsistency is that our galaxy is close to the centre of a large, local void," explained Dr. Indranil Banik from the University of this scenario, gravitational forces pull matter towards denser regions outside the void. As the void empties, the velocity of objects moving away from us appears faster, giving the impression of an accelerated local expansion idea of a local void is supported by direct galaxy counts, indicating a lower galaxy density in our vicinity compared to surrounding regions. However, this notion remains controversial as it contradicts the standard cosmological model, which expects a more uniform distribution of matter on such large Banik's presentation at NAM 2025 highlighted data from baryon acoustic oscillations (BAOs), described as the 'sound of the Big Bang.'"These sound waves travelled for only a short while before becoming frozen in place once the universe cooled enough for neutral atoms to form," he noted. "They act as a standard ruler, whose angular size we can use to chart the cosmic expansion history."The presence of a local void is suggested to distort the relationship between the BAO angular scale and redshift, due to increased velocities and gravitational the last two decades of BAO measurement analysis, this void model appears significantly more plausible than a void-free model aligned with the parameters of the Planck satellite research will involve comparing this local void model with other methods for estimating the universe's expansion history, such as cosmic chronometers. These methods involve analysing galaxies no longer forming stars to determine their age and expansion observing their spectra, astronomers can assess what types of stars they contain. The combination of these findings with galaxy redshift data provides further insights into the cosmic expansion narrative.- Ends
Indian Express
12-06-2025
- Science
- Indian Express
Scientists detect 13 billion-year old signal from ‘Cosmic Dawn' using Earth-based telescopes
In what can be called a truly unique accomplishment, scientists seem to have detected a 13 billion-year-old signal using Earth-based telescopes. This feat allow them to see how the first stars impacted light emitted from the Big Bang. Astrophysicists measured polarised microwave light to create a clearer picture of what is known as Cosmic Dawn. They traced this by using telescopes high in the Andes mountains of northern Chile. Cosmic Dawn refers to the period roughly between 50 million to one billion years after the Big Bang, a time when the first stars, black holes, and galaxies were reportedly formed. The research led by Tobias Marriage, professor of physics and astronomy at Johns Hopkins University (JHU), is the first time ground-based observations have captured signals from the Cosmic Dawn. 'People thought this couldn't be done from the ground. Astronomy is a technology-limited field, and microwave signals from the Cosmic Dawn are famously difficult to measure,' Marriage was quoted as saying by the JHU website. 'Ground-based observations face additional challenges compared to space. Overcoming those obstacles makes this measurement a significant achievement,' he added. According to the official JHU website, cosmic microwaves are barely millimetres in wavelength and are very hard to detect. The signal from polarised microwave light is about a million times fainter, making it much more difficult to trace. Meanwhile, on Earth, broadcast radio waves, radar and satellites can drown their signal, and changes in the atmosphere, weather and even temperature can distort it. The researchers claimed that even under perfect conditions, measuring this type of microwave would need highly sensitive equipment. Scientists from the US National Science Foundation's Cosmology Larger Angular Scale Surveyor, or CLASS project, used telescopes that have been specifically designed to detect traces left by the first stars in the relic big bang light. This was previously only accomplished by technology deployed in space, such as the US National Aerospace and Space Administration Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) and European Space Agency Planck space telescopes. As part of the project, the researchers compared the CLASS telescope data with data from the Planck and WMAP missions. They identified interference and narrowed in on a common signal from the polarised microwave light. Polarisation is when light waves collide into something and scatter. 'When light hits the hood of your car and you see a glare, that's polarisation. To see clearly, you can put on polarised glasses to take away glare,' said author Yunyang Li, who was a PhD student at Johns Hopkins and then a fellow at the University of Chicago during the research. 'Using the new common signal, we can determine how much of what we're seeing is cosmic glare from light bouncing off the hood of the cosmic dawn, so to speak.'
Forbes
14-04-2025
- Science
- Forbes
Google Doodle Marks World Quantum Day 2025 — What That's All About
A model of a quantum computer's chip, on display at the opening of an IBM quantum data center in ... More 2024. Wondering what's going on in Monday's Google Doodle? The artwork illustrates a principle that's fundamental to quantum computing in celebration of World Quantum Day. The event, in its third year, takes place annually on April 14 to promote awareness and understanding of the fast-advancing fields of quantum science and technology. The Doodle shows each letter of the word 'Google' as a thaumatrope, an optical toy that displays different pictures on either side of a spinning disk. 'When spun rapidly, our brains superimpose both images so they appear to combine and form one image,' Google explains of the animated Doodle. 'The thaumatrope helps illustrate the concept of quantum superposition: when a particle exists in multiple states at once.' The April Doodle for April 14 pays tribute to all things quantum. Quantum mechanics involves the study of particle behavior at the atomic and subatomic level. The Doodle launches as quantum computers, which can execute extraordinarily speedy calculations, promise to do everything from transform financial and manufacturing industries to reduce damage from climate change and push the boundaries of art. Quantum scientists from around the world initiated World Quantum Day to spur engagement with quantum concepts. Quantum scientists from around the world launched World Quantum Day to spark public engagement with quantum concepts. It's celebrated on April 14, a nod to 4.14, the rounded first digits of Planck's constant, a key value in quantum mechanics. Last year, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution introduced to commemorate and support World Quantum Day's goals. 'The World Quantum Day initiative is an important reminder of the progress already made in this technology field and the need to ensure our children have the skills they need to continue that progress in the future,' Senator Todd Young, an Indiana Republican who introduced the resolution with two fellow senators, said at the time. World Quantum Day 2025 is part of the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology designated by UNESCO. The IYQ site lists numerous April 14 events hosted by governments, academic institutions and laboratories around the globe: in Armenia, Brazil, India, Japan, Jordan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Portugal, and the U.S., among other places. Most aim to make quantum concepts more widely accessible. That's the goal of Turner Prize-winning artist Laure Prouvost, whose immersive installation 'We Felt a Star Dying' — showing in Berlin through May 7 — explores how we might perceive reality from a quantum perspective. Prouvost engage audiences in quantum fundamentals not through complex explanations of concepts like qubits, but through video and sound developed with a quantum computer, as well scent and sculptural elements reflecting quantum phenomena. In the quantum realm, 'everything is untangled and belongs to one another,' the multimedia artist told me when we spoke earlier this year. 'Quantum-ness can break any sense of barrier that we didn't know was possible to break. There's this sense of everything at once.'
Leaders
04-04-2025
- Business
- Leaders
C4IR Saudi Arabia to Host Global Experts for World Quantum Day 2025
The Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) Saudi Arabia, in partnership with King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) and Saudi Aramco, will host 'Discovering Quantum Possibilities' on Monday, April 14, 2025, at The Garage. This event, part of the World Quantum Day (WQD) 2025 celebrations, will bring together global experts to explore cutting-edge advancements in quantum science and technology. Designated by the United Nations as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ), 2025 marks a century of quantum breakthroughs. The event will convene leaders from government, industry, and academia to discuss the transformative impact of quantum technologies across various sectors. Symbolic Date for Quantum Science April 14 was chosen for World Quantum Day as it reflects the first three digits of Planck's constant (4.14)—a fundamental physics constant defining the minimum energy a quantum particle can carry. This date serves as a fitting tribute to the foundational principles of quantum mechanics. Distinguished Speakers, Thought Leaders The event will feature prominent global figures, including: Dr. Talal Al-Sedairy, Senior Vice President, Research and Development, KACST Dr. Mariam Nouh, Vice President, Economies of the Future, KACST Dr. Sebastian Buckup, Head of Network and Partnerships, World Economic Forum Eng. Muhammad AlSaiyari, Quantum Valley Lead, Saudi Aramco & Chairman, Saudi Quantum Computing Association Professor Ibrahim Niaz, CEO, National Technology Development Program Ilyas Khan, CEO, Quantum Computing at Cambridge & Vice Chairman, Quantinuum Rebecca Krauthammer, Founder & Chief Product Officer, QuSecure Vision for Saudi Arabia's Quantum Future Dr. Basma Al-Buhairan, Managing Director of C4IR Saudi Arabia, emphasized the Kingdom's commitment to advancing innovation and shaping policies to harness the full potential of quantum technologies. 'World Quantum Day provides a platform for global experts to engage, promote regulatory advancements, and raise awareness of quantum's transformative power in building a sustainable future,' she noted. Recognizing Quantum Innovation The event will also spotlight emerging quantum solutions by announcing the winners of the 'UpLink Quantum for Society' challenge, a collaboration between C4IR Saudi Arabia and the World Economic Forum's UpLink platform. This initiative highlights quantum-driven entrepreneurial solutions addressing global challenges. Finally, C4IR Saudi Arabia's WQD 2025 event builds on the success of last year's inaugural celebration, which attracted over 300 in-person attendees, nine expert panels, nine exhibits, and 5,000+ livestream viewers. 📌 Register now: Related Topics : Aramco Partners Pasqal to Deploy First Quantum Computer in Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia-Türkiye Business Forum: Deepening Economic Ties UK Plans to Boost Innovation and Technology with Saudi Arabia Huawei Cloud Launches AI-Ready Infrastructure in Saudi Arabia for Vision 2030 Short link : Post Views: 22
