A recent analysis of the largest map of the universe has confirmed Einstein’s theory of general relativity once again. The study looked at nearly 6 million galaxies and quasars over 11 billion years and found that gravity behaves as predicted by Einstein even on colossal scales. This validation of cosmologists’ leading theory of the universe limits alternative theories of gravity.
While the results support general relativity, they also raise questions about discrepancies in the model, such as the universe’s varying expansion rates at different stages of its existence. Researchers are still unsure if new explanations are needed for these anomalies. The findings were published in several papers on the preprint server arXiv and will be presented at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society in January.
Cosmologists have long debated gravity’s behavior at large distances, with the lambda cold dark matter model being the prevailing theory. However, doubts about elements like dark matter and dark energy, as well as the model’s inability to explain certain observations, have led to rival factions proposing alternative explanations like modified Newtonian dynamics (MOND).
To study how gravity behaves at large scales, researchers analyzed data from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) on the Nicholas U. Mayall 4-meter Telescope in Arizona. The analysis revealed that the universe’s structure aligns with Einstein’s predictions, suggesting that dark energy may evolve over time.
While it’s still early to draw definitive conclusions, the ongoing DESI experiment is set to release more data in spring 2025. With data from around 40 million galaxies and quasars, researchers hope to further probe modified gravity and improve constraints on models of dark energy. The next two years of data collection could provide more insights into the mysteries of the cosmos.
Ben Turner, a U.K.-based staff writer at Live Science, covers physics, astronomy, tech, and climate change. With a background in particle physics and journalism, Ben brings a unique perspective to his writing. When he’s not working, he enjoys reading literature, playing the guitar, and challenging himself with chess.
