The Expanding and Accelerating Universe

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In 1998 The Accelerating expansion of the Universe was discovered by two competing groups of scientists called the Supernova Cosmology Project and the High-Z Supernova Search Team that were led by Saul Perlmutter, Adam Reiss, and Brian Schmidt. And In 2011 they were awarded noble prizes in physics for their discovery of the accelerating expansion of the Universe. They did so by applying new technologies like computers and digital cameras to study and measure the spectrum and brightness of the light from other galaxies. The discovery proved the possible existence of a repulsive gravity force called dark energy that is responsible for accelerating the expansion of space. It challenged the previous assumptions of physicists whom believed that the expansion of the universe should be slowing down and it would eventually stop expanding or start contracting again because the attractive force of gravity. It also led to a change in the understanding of the workings of the universe. The discovery made by the two groups of scientists working and competing with each other has greatly added to the understanding of the workings of the universe and of how it began.
In 1912 the astronomer Vesto Slipher who studied the light spectrum of objects in space that first noticed the redness of other galaxies as they appeared the skies. Some years later in 1929 Carl Hubble discovered that the other galaxies are moving away from us. While studying the light from Type 1a supernova explosions he observed a Doppler effect in the light from the supernova the farther away the redder the light that he observed. A Type 1a supernova is a binary star system where a white dwarf star absorbs the gas of the other one and thermonuclear explosion when it get...

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The study of supernova led to discovery of the expanding and accelerating universe and proved the existence of the dark energy that dominates the vacuum of space. The discovery has been a benefit to humanity because it is a significant contribution to our understanding of the workings and origins of the universe we live in. for the by increasing. This knowledge could lead to many more discoveries and expand our knowledge even further. It displays the value of service because of the effects it has on humanity brought us closer understanding who we are and where we come from.

Works Cited

Kruesi, Liz. "Three Cosmologists Win The 2011 Nobel Prize In Physics." Astronomy 40.1 (2012): 19. Academic Search Complete. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.

Dan, Vergano. "Astronomer sees a 'brake' in cosmic expansion." USA Today n.d.: Academic Search Complete. Web. 20 Nov. 2013.

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