Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh
Credit: Claire Lamman/DESI collaboration
The universe is less “clumpy” than expected. Data from ACT and DESI suggests matter hasn’t clustered as tightly as current models predict—hinting at a cosmic puzzle still unsolved.
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Researchers analyzed the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB), a 13.8-billion-year-old glow, revealing how the universe once looked—just 380,000 years after the Big Bang.
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DESI’s galaxy surveys provided a detailed map of present-day cosmic structures. When paired with ancient light, the comparison exposed surprising changes in matter distribution.
Despite the twist, Einstein’s theory of gravity still holds up. Most structural patterns matched predictions—except for a curious dip in clumpiness about 4 billion years ago.
That discrepancy might signal a stronger-than-expected influence of dark energy, the mysterious force accelerating cosmic expansion and possibly reshaping matter over time.
By layering old and new data, scientists created a cosmic CT scan, watching how structures evolved from infant universe to today—offering a 3D view across time.
Credit: DESI Collaboration/KPNO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/ P. Horálek/R. Proctor
While not definitive, the findings hint at unknown forces or particles at play. If confirmed, it could be the first step toward a refined model of the universe.
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The observed anomaly isn’t drastic, but it’s consistent. A subtle reduction in clumpiness suggests small but systematic deviations from current theoretical expectations.
Credit: Claire Lamman/DESI collaboration; custom colormap package by cmastro
Next-gen telescopes like the Simons Observatory will dig deeper. More precise data may confirm whether dark energy is the culprit—or if new physics is waiting to be uncovered.
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