S1E2: Hubble's Cognitive Dissonance скачать в хорошем качестве

S1E2: Hubble's Cognitive Dissonance

In this episode, we follow the moment when astronomy crossed a critical threshold. By the early twentieth century, astronomers had finally learned how to measure distance beyond the Milky Way, using Cepheid variable stars as reliable cosmic yardsticks. Galaxies could now be placed in space, not just imagined. But distance alone was not enough. By examining how the light from galaxies was shifted toward the red end of the spectrum, astronomers could also measure motion. Using these tools, Edwin Hubble uncovered a clear and unsettling pattern: the farther away a galaxy was, the faster it appeared to be receding. The measurements were solid. The interpretation was not. Hubble himself did not believe the universe was expanding. The data pointed in a direction that existing physics could not comfortably explain. The tension remained unresolved — until a new kind of cosmic ruler appeared. Type one A supernovae, triggered when white dwarf stars reach a fundamental mass limit, provided a standard candle bright enough to measure distances across billions of light-years. For the first time, astronomers had a yardstick that reached to the edge of the observable universe. And when that yardstick was finally trusted… Things got weird. We’ll talk about that in the next episode. So — come walk with me.