We’ve been wrong about the laws of the universe 🙃

We’ve been wrong about the universe’s expansion all along

For over a decade, a problem known as the ‘Hubble Tension’ has been threatening to upend everything we know about the universe. 

Last month, the problem graduated from a potential possibility to a strong possibility. 

Remember the whole ‘the universe is always expanding’ thing? It turns out that might not be the whole story. 

🪐 Since launching the Hubble and James Webb telescopes, researchers have noticed that the rate of expansion seems to change depending on where we look. 

🪐 At first, researchers believed these observations were a measurement error and dubbed it The Hubble Tension. 

🪐 But in 2019 and 2023, more precise measurements suggested there was no miscalculation. And in February 2024, the most airtight study to date confirmed that no errors could be blamed.

What does this mean to researchers? Reactions are mixed.

In the words of Nobel Prize-winning astronomer David Gross in 2019:

💬 "We wouldn't call it a tension or problem, but rather a crisis.”

In the words of Adam Riess, the lead author of the latest study:

💬 "With measurement errors negated, what remains is the real and exciting possibility we have misunderstood the universe.”

We’ll let you decide if the cosmic glass is half full or half empty 🤷

Spotted: alcohol in deep space 🍻

While observing cosmic regions around young protostars, the James Webb Telescope recently spotted one of humanity’s most beloved substances: ethanol, an organic molecule found in alcoholic beverages 🥃

🦠 The protostars are so youthful they haven’t yet formed planets, but they’re expected to eventually have at least one planet each. 

🦠 The ethanol was found along with a few other organic molecules, including one used in vinegar here on Earth. 

🦠 When these planet-forming regions one day become comets, asteroids, and planetary systems, the organic molecules may become part of their makeup (just like our planet!). 

What’s next for researchers? Following the astrochemical trail step by step to learn more about how organic molecules travel through space 🚀

How to view a once-in-a-lifetime nova explosion

🖖It’s a good year to be a space enthusiast 🖖

An exploding star will be visible to the naked eye for about a week between now and September.

💫 The nova explosion is taking place 3,000 lightyears away. When it becomes visible, everyone in the Northern Hemisphere should be able to see its flare.

💫 This star system’s nova was last seen in 1946 and won’t appear again for another 80 years. 

💫 Astronomers predict it will appear between the constellations Bootes and Hercules as part of Corona Borealis. 

Stay tuned for more nova explosion updates 🫡

T-Minus One Week Until the Solar Eclipse

Don’t forget to mark your calendars! On April 8th, a total solar eclipse will darken the sky across parts of Mexico, the US, and Canada 🌞

😎 The eclipse will last for about 4 minutes sometime between 11 AM PDT and 5:15 PM NDT, depending on where you live. 

😎 Exact eclipse times can be found on NASA’s interactive map. 

😎 Yes, eclipse glasses are essential. Click here for NASA’s guide to safe eclipse viewing. 

As we said, 2024 is a good time for space geeks ✌️

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