Student Article

The Universe is full of mysteries, and now scientists are more puzzled than ever. They’ve discovered that the Universe isn’t behaving the way they expected.

Galaxies are moving in strange ways

This leads to a big question: Are the rules we use to understand the Universe wrong? Some scientists think so. For example, the expansion rate of the Universe — called the Hubble constant — doesn’t match up when it’s measured in different ways. One way is by looking at nearby stars and galaxies. Another way is by studying light from the early Universe. These two methods give different answers, and no one knows why.

Is something missing from our models?

There are also problems with dark energy and dark matter, two invisible forces that scientists believe shape the Universe. These ideas were made to explain strange behavior in space, like galaxies spinning too fast. But now, even those theories might not be enough.

Big questions lead to big discoveries

Some scientists think we need a new way to understand gravity, time, or the way space itself works. Others say we need better measurements. Either way, the Universe is sending us clues that something big might be missing from our understanding.

Science doesn’t always give quick answers, but every mystery brings us closer to the truth. The Universe might be weirder than we ever imagined — but that makes it exciting to explore.

© Marcus Chown / Our Media