No, the Universe is not expanding at an accelerated rate, say physicists

Science alert ^ | 10/24/16 | BEC CREW

[AndyTheBear]

Does that mean the mass of science is negative?

[William Tell]

dsrtsage said: "If the universe was imploding, ..."

One of the most useful illustrations to explain these theories, using two dimensions instead of three, is that of a balloon with a grid of dots painted on the surface.

If the balloon isn't being further inflated or deflated and you position yourself at one of the dots, what do you see? The distance to any other dot would be constant.

If you then began inflating the balloon, the distance to nearby dots would be increasing. The distance to dots further away would be increasing even faster. That would describe an "expanding universe".

If you began deflating the balloon, the distance to nearby dots would be decreasing and similarly the distance to dots further away would be decreasing even faster.

Now further imagine that we can inflate or deflate the balloon such that the rate of inflation or deflation increases with time or decreases with time. This would correspond to "accelerating expansion" or "decelerating expansion" or "accelerating contraction" or "decelerating contraction".

The finite speed of light allows us to view distant parts of the universe at earlier times. This theoretically permits us to determine if the rate of expansion now (locally) is more or less than the rate of expansion at some time in the past (the more distant objects in the universe).

Of course, if the image of the universe we see is simply one giant hologram, then all bets are off.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

And was established science.

[M Kehoe]

Hi.

There’s been a few people theorize that we are living on G-d’s holo deck.

Probably the fifth deck near the replicators.

5.56mm

[InABunkerUnderSF]

how does knowing this help me?

It could be helpful if you are invested in any stocks that are working on anti-gravity devices that rely on dark energy to work - as in sell now!

[outofsalt]

Next, they will discover that the, “cosmic microwave background” really was due to pigeon poop.

My theory is that it exists because people open their microwave ovens before pausing the cooking so, each time they do, they allow a little bit of energy to escape into the void.

[Parmy]

First it wasn’t. Then it was. Now it isn’t. Can’t someone make up their minds?

[sparklite2]

Next, they will discover that the, “cosmic microwave background” really was due to pigeon poop.

---

It was scientists at Bell Labs who were constructing a giant horn-antenna but could not get rid of a background hiss which they did, at first, attribute to pigeon poop. It was the cosmic microwave background.

[LibWhacker]

We have to begin by knowing that the null hypothesis is the “skeptic’s hypothesis.” We give the skeptic the benefit of the doubt; i.e., assume that he is right (this allows us to calculate probabilities), then go out and collect some data.

Physicists make it very difficult on themselves. They will not reject the null hypothesis (here the null hypothesis says the universe is not accelerating in its expansion rate) unless the probability “that they saw what they saw” exceeds some arbitrary cutoff point (here 5 sigma). The probability in normally distributed data of seeing something as unlikely as 5 sigma is 1 in 3.5 million.

[justa-hairyape]

Big Bangs. Dark matter. White dwarfs ? And they call this science ?

[sparklite2]

I agree that dark matter may be just a fudge factor to explain discrepancies involving galactic rotation. Dark energy is a theory to explain accelerated expansion. If you don’t think this is science, you are encouraged to purchase a telescope and do a better job.

[YogicCowboy]

I thought it was fluoristan. (Makes starlight whiter!)

[YogicCowboy]

The rising CO2 levels from ACC have reduced the expanding properties of gases throughout the multiverse, resulting in a catastrophic reversal of Nobel prizes.

[YogicCowboy]

Big Bangs: Zooey Deschanel.

Dark Matter: Batman Begins.

White Dwarfs: Tyrion Lannister and friends.

[TheNext]

The phlogiston requires the ether occupying empty space to ignite a spontaneously combustible person ...

... theoretically of course.

[editor-surveyor]

.
>> “Nobel prizes” <<

Those come in Crackerjack boxes I believe...
.

[TheNext]

how does knowing this help me?

Oh you are a dark hearted, dark energy denier.

And you are entirely correct. Better to keep your own tax money from study fund seekers and go fishing. :-)

[dr_lew]

"We analysed the latest catalogue of 740 Type Ia supernovae - over 10 times bigger than the original samples on which the discovery claim was based - and found that the evidence for accelerated expansion is, at most, what physicists call '3 sigma'," reports lead researcher, Subir Sarkar, from the University of Oxford.

"This is far short of the '5 sigma' standard required to claim a discovery of fundamental significance."

Whoa! This is hardly a resounding refutation! This is more like DUMB AND DUMBER ... "Yes! Then there is a chance!" ( That they might be wrong. )

"3 sigma" means that 99.7% of actually true models would pass the test. The "5 sigma" standard is intended to represent virtual certainty. In this case the implication is that the 0.3% chance that the model could be wrong disqualifies it from factitude.

[jonno]

“...fluoristan...”

Ok, I admit it - I chuckled...

[Pagey]

BTTT!!!