Expanding Expansion

Summary: Based on new data from the Hubble Space Telescope, the universe might actually be expanding faster than previously thought. This new data comes from an updated study of the velocities of Cepheid Variable Stars and Type Ia Supernovae to determine a value for the Hubble constant. The new data points to a slightly higher value of 73.24 km/sec/Mpc. This is only slightly higher than the value of 70 used in many textbooks.

However, this only increases the gap between the value gained from this method and the value gained from the Planck telescope. Those experiments lead to a Hubble value of 66.53 km/sec/Mpc. This means the difference of a few hundred million years when calculating the age of the universe.

At this point, astronomers can only guess at the cause of the discrepancy. Many point fingers at Dark Energy or a fourth flavor of Neutrino, but ultimately we hope that the next generation of telescopes can show us the answers.

Source:
BBC News
arXiv

BOSS Data

Summary: The BOSS (Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey) collaboration has released a new report with record precision of 1% and a more accurate measure of w, Dark Energy's pressure to density ratio. If this number is simply Einstein's cosmological constant, then w=-1. The new data seems to provide solid proof for this theory as their results yielded w= -1.03±0.06.

The overall purpose of the collaboration is to more precisely determine the redshift of galaxies so that astronomers can connect this measurement with other measurements of cosmological distance. This correlation can then be applied to galaxies that are too far to measure distance by anything other than redshift.


Physics Today

New 1% Accuracy of Universe

Summary:  Set by the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS), astronomers now have a new standard for measuring distances in the universe. Using baryon acoustic oscillations (BAOs), they have created a standard ruler of half a billion light years long which they can use to measure distances in the universe to a 1% accuracy.
With incredibly accurate measurements, astronomers can calibrate fundamental cosmological properties that were wishy-washy at best before. The most exciting one for me, is being able to pin down how dark energy accelerates the expansion of the universe. It also can help provide a better estimate of the curvature of the universe. The latest estimates of which, seem to indicate that the universe is flatter than we previously thought. If it gets much flatter, we may find out we are living in an infinite universe.


BBC News

Smorgasbord of Articles

I have not had much time of late to write up, or even read some of these articles and while I hope to catch up over my break, I do not wish to deprive you of them any longer than necessary. So here are a bunch of potentially interesting articles.

Quantum 'world record' smashed
New invisibility cloak type designed
Physics probes 'splashback' problem
Freak space rock spins dusty trail
India Mars probe makes first burn
Olympic torch in first spacewalk
Laser ripping apart spacetime to create ghosts
New Super-Black Material
Superconducting video camera seeing in living color

Source for Dark Matter and Antimatter News

I stumbled upon a link on the APS website to an archive of all their cosmology news which includes lots of articles on Dark Matter and antimatter and the beginnings of the universe. If any of that interests you, don't hesitate to check it out.


APS-Cosmology

Dark Articles

Summary: Linked are two articles about Dark Energy talking about one of the biggest mysteries concerning this elusive stuff and the other talks a little bit about its history. As a bonus, if you read far enough down on the page, there is an article about "The Big Bang Theory" which is a great show that I am very behind on.


Fermilab Today

New light to be shed on Dark Energy

Summary: Astronomers have spotted the most distant supernova yet and hope that it may be able to give more clues about Dark Energy.

Bonus fact: Supernovas are usually named for composers. This one is named for jazz musician Charles Mingus.


BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20968199
Berkeley Lab: http://newscenter.lbl.gov/news-releases/2013/01/09/scp0401-farthest-yet/

Dark matter

If you do not understand Dark Matter, here is a good blog post comparing the universe to making a cake.

Scienceblogs: http://scienceblogs.com/startswithabang/2012/12/07/yes-we-really-really-need-dark-matter/#.UMoxBFcfs8I.twitter

New Method of Measuring Dark Energy

Summary: I'm not sure I understand this one. Here's what I understand: there is a new way of measuring the presence of Dark Energy in our universe over time. It involves measuring the scatter of light through hydrogen clouds. The way quasars scatter through those clouds is very specific so it can be measured. It has helped to confirm that the early universe the Gravitational force dominated, causing a deceleration in the expansion of the universe, but then Dark Energy took over and the universe began the phase of rapid expansion we are currently in.
This new method is being employed by the members of BOSS team in the US.



BBC News: ion years into the past.
< http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20303592

New Dark Energy Camera

Summary: A new camera designed to learn more about Dark Energy has opened its eye. It is designed to learn about this mysterious stuff by studying supernovae and the baryon acoustic oscillations. It will be a collaboration between many countries and should prove to be ground breaking for the study of Dark Matter.

BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19634700

SciShow: http://youtu.be/2j_H5ZIGR4o

Dark matter tracks could give earliest view of Universe

Summary: It seems as though scientists have come up with a new way of studying dark matter based on wavelengths. I can't say I fully understood it though.

BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18521713

Telescope to probe dark universe

Summary: Europe is set to launch a telescope to investigate dark energy and dark matter in the year 2019. The US will have a very small role but some American scientists will be allowed access to the data. 

BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18503703

Colossal telescope given go-ahead

Summary: The European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT) is given the go ahead to be built. It will have a primary mirror some 40m in diameter, and will be built on top of a mountain in Chile. When completed it will be the largest optical telescope in the world. It will see in visible and near-infared. It will hopefully uncover some of the mysteries surrounding dark energy. BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18396853 And as always, if you have any questions on the news story or something else that seems up my ally, leave a comment and I will do my best to answer it.

Survey gets a grip on dark energy

Summary:

Astronomers measure the precise distance to over a quarter of a million galaxies to gain new insights into the influence of dark energy on the Universe.

BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17559286

(These next few posts will probably be summaries from BBC as I have very little time right now.)