The question of how fast the universe is expanding continues to fox scientists . Although it might seem like a fairly straight issue , the reality is that it has been perplexing the best minds in physics and astronomy for ten — and unexampled inquiry using the James Webb Space Telescope and the Hubble Space Telescope does n’t make the solvent any open .

scientist have intercourse that the universe is expand over time , but what they ca n’t hold on is the charge per unit at which this is come about — shout the Hubble constant . There are two primary method used to count on this ceaseless : one that await at how fast distant galax are moving out from us , and one that looks at remnant energy from the Big Bang call in the cosmic microwave oven setting . The hassle is , these two method give different results .

For a long time , scientists wear that this was likely due to a measurement erroneousness . One or both of the measurements must be inaccurate , they think , so it was expected that as engineering progressed , the method would get more exact and come to an agreement . But that has n’t happened . As the applied science used in the estimates has improved , like the manipulation of new and more brawny space telescopes , the discrepancy between the two results has stayed stubbornly in spot .

investigator recently used the late measurements from James Webb and Hubble to check their calculations , and they did n’t get hold any inaccuracy in the former measurements . In fact , they were able to narrow down these measurements to make them even more precise .

“ With measurement errors negated , what remains is the existent and exciting possibility that we have misunderstood the universe , ” enjoin lead researcher Adam Riess in astatement . “ We ’ve now cross the whole range of what Hubble observed , and we can decree out a measure error as the grounds of the Hubble Tension with very high self-assurance . ”

The researcher used both Webb and Hubble to frustrate - control the data , efficaciously see each telescope ’s measurements with the other . That was particularly significant for calculation of very distant aim using Hubble , as Hubble was n’t really designed to note objective so far off , while Webb was . The two telescopes hold , though , so itwasn’t Hubble information causing a problem .

“ Combining Webb and Hubble gives us the good of both worlds . We find oneself that the Hubble measurements stay reliable as we go up farther along the cosmic aloofness ladder , ” said Riess .

Last class , other data from Webb supported the Hubble information , but there was still a head of whether the datum was exact for closer physical object , but less exact for more upstage I — as dissimilar distance are measured using different objects in the universe , which is refer to as the cosmic distant ravel . Now , the resultant role show that the Hubble data is accurate not only for these closer objects , but also for the more distant I .

So the boastful doubt is still as opened and entrenched as ever . How fast is the population expanding ? We just do n’t know , and we do n’t get it on why the two type of measuring give contradictory results . The good explanation scientist have is that there is something dissimilar between the early universe of discourse and where we exist now , called the late universe . “ We need to find out if we are missing something on how to tie in the commencement of the universe and the present mean solar day , ” said Riess .

The research is publish inThe Astrophysical Journal Letters .