Hubble reveals a stunning twist in how the universe emerged from darkness
A surprising discovery by astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope is challenging a leading explanation for how the early universe emerged from a dense fog of hydrogen roughly 13 billion years ago.
A surprising discovery by astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope is challenging a leading explanation for how the early universe emerged from a dense fog of hydrogen roughly 13 billion years ago.
The short version
- Scientists once believed powerful winds from exploding stars helped radiation escape galaxies and clear that cosmic fog, but new observations reveal that these winds actually block radiation instead.
- A surprising discovery made with NASA's Hubble Space Telescope is challenging a leading explanation for how the early universe emerged from darkness.
- The findings suggest that powerful explosions from dying stars may have actually interfered with a process scientists once believed they helped drive.
What happened
An international research team, including astronomers from the University of Michigan, found that powerful winds produced by exploding stars can prevent ultraviolet radiation from escaping galaxies. This is the opposite of what a widely accepted theory had predicted, and it could change how scientists understand one of the most important transformations in cosmic history.
Why it matters
The discovery, published in Nature Astronomy , offers new clues about how the universe became transparent to ultraviolet light roughly 13 billion years ago.
Summary by Nerd News Network. Read the full article at ScienceDaily — Top Science via the links above and below.