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  • Scientists Observe Early Universe in ‘Extreme Slow-Motion’ Using Quasars

    Scientists Observe Early Universe in ‘Extreme Slow-Motion’ Using Quasars

    Scientists have achieved a groundbreaking feat by observing the early state of the universe in extreme slow-motion, thanks to data obtained from quasars, which are massive and brilliantly bright objects located far from Earth. These quasars act as “lighthouses” that carry the history of celestial objects within the light they emit, such as stars and galaxies.

    universe

    Over a span of nearly two decades, researchers in Australia and New Zealand meticulously observed 190 quasars, harnessing the data to create a virtual “universal clock.” By comparing different wavelengths to the ticking of a clock, they could decipher the progression of time in the early universe.

    The light from these quasars traversed the cosmos for billions of years before reaching telescopes, providing valuable insights into the distant past. This remarkable achievement is grounded in Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity, which reveals how time varies across different spatial and temporal contexts.

    The University of Sydney Professor Gerent Lewis elucidated, “Thanks to Einstein, we comprehend the interconnected nature of time and space. The universe, stemming from a single point in the Big Bang, is expanding. An expanding universe entails that time in the early stages flows significantly slower than it does presently.

    This research delved into events occurring approximately one billion years after the Big Bang.” Professor Lewis further explained that immediately following the Big Bang, roughly 13.8 billion years ago, time in the universe flowed at a fifth of its present rate.

    While a second would have appeared as a standard unit of time in the early universe, from our current standpoint, approximately 12 billion years later, that exact second would seem to drag on. The discrepancy arises due to the relativity of time, which becomes apparent when comparing different temporal epochs. These groundbreaking findings were published in the esteemed journal Nature Astronomy by Professor Lewis and his colleague, Dr. Brendan Brewer, a senior lecturer at the University of Auckland.

    By unraveling the early state of the universe and comprehending how time evolved during its formative stages, scientists have taken a monumental step toward understanding the fundamental nature of our cosmos. This achievement sheds light on the intricate interplay between space, time, and the universe’s expansion, deepening our knowledge of the origin and evolution of the cosmos.

  • Scientists Discover Supermassive Black Hole Emerging from Dormancy, Exhibiting Brightness

    Scientists Discover Supermassive Black Hole Emerging from Dormancy, Exhibiting Brightness

    Scientists have made a surprising discovery about a black hole called Sagittarius A* at the center of our galaxy, the Milky Way. This black hole, which is about 400 million times more massive than the Sun, has been dormant for a long time. However, about 200 years ago, it suddenly became more active and started emitting much more light. It was like a glow-worm that instantly started glowing brightly.

    Sagittarius A*

    Researchers are not sure what causes such sudden changes, but they are working hard to understand it. They want to know what factors contribute to black holes going from quiescent to active. Recently, scientists were able to make this breakthrough discovery by detecting “echoes” of X-rays from centuries ago. These echoes helped them understand all kinds of events happening around Sagittarius A*.

    The researchers also found that the bright light seen in clouds around black holes is due to X-rays reflected by these clouds. They believe these clouds are still showing X-rays emitted by black holes in the early 19th century. This study, published in the journal Nature, provides a new perspective on this unusual phenomenon.

    In the past, it was not possible to perform X-ray tests like this. However, scientists have now been able to do this using a special instrument called NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE). This instrument can perform X-ray detection and analysis with high precision. This allowed them to understand better the properties and behavior of these supermassive black holes.

    Despite this breakthrough discovery, scientists are still not sure of the exact reason why it is active. They are determined to continue studying the black hole and uncover what causes it to go from quiescent to active. They hope to learn more about these cosmic objects by unraveling the mysteries of black hole behavior.