The Atacama Cosmology Telescope has released new data that confirms the prevailing model of the universe, but the mystery surrounding its expansion rate remains unsolved. The measurements of the Hubble constant, which describe the rate at which the universe is expanding, have produced conflicting results, with the new data agreeing with previous measurements of the cosmic microwave background but disagreeing with estimates based on closer objects.
Forecast for 6 months: The discrepancy between the two types of measurements will continue to tighten, and researchers will likely explore alternative explanations for the difference, such as new particles or interactions between dark matter and regular matter.
Forecast for 1 year: The Simons Observatory, an even more sensitive telescope in Chile, will begin to provide new data that may reveal hidden deviations from the standard model of cosmology. This could lead to a breakthrough in understanding the expansion rate of the universe.
Forecast for 5 years: The current standard model of cosmology will continue to be refined and tested, and researchers will likely make significant progress in understanding the properties of dark energy and dark matter. However, the mystery surrounding the expansion rate may persist for several more years.
Forecast for 10 years: The discovery of new physics beyond the standard model of cosmology is possible, and researchers may uncover evidence of new particles or interactions that can explain the discrepancy in the expansion rate measurements. This could lead to a fundamental shift in our understanding of the universe.
