How fast is the universe expanding? Supernova could provide the answer
Phys.org
February 19, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The expansion rate of the universe remains a critical unresolved question in cosmology, with implications for understanding dark energy, dark matter, and the ultimate fate of the cosmos. A team of researchers from institutions including the Technical University of Munich, Ludwig Maximilians University, and Max Planck Institutes has made significant progress by studying an exceptionally rare supernova, which could offer a new, independent method to measure this expansion. The research, published on the arXiv preprint server, focuses on Type II supernovae—events triggered by massive stars collapsing into neutron stars or black holes.
Type II supernovae are less commonly used for measuring cosmic expansion compared to Type Ia supernovae, but they offer unique advantages. Unlike Type Ia events, which rely on their consistent intrinsic brightness, Type II explosions vary widely in brightness and duration. However, the team's detailed imaging and modeling of a rare "super-luminous" Type II supernova revealed patterns that could help determine its distance and intrinsic brightness more accurately. By analyzing how the light from such supernovae stretches due to the universe's expansion, scientists can calculate the Hubble constant—a key value determining the expansion rate.
This new approach is particularly exciting because it provides an independent way to measure the Hubble constant, which has been a source of tension between different methods like redshift measurements and standard candles. The team's use of high-resolution imaging from space telescopes and advanced 3D modeling techniques allowed them to capture unprecedented details about the supernova's behavior. This breakthrough could help resolve ongoing debates in cosmology and improve our understanding of the universe's accelerating expansion.
Understanding how fast the universe is expanding is not just an abstract pursuit—it has profound implications for science. It affects our models of dark energy, which drives the acceleration, and helps us piece together the history and future of the cosmos. This research could also shed light on mysterious phenomena like neutron star mergers and black hole formation, further enriching our knowledge of extreme astrophysical events.
In summary, this study represents a significant step forward in cosmology, offering a novel tool to measure the universe's expansion rate. By leveraging the unique properties of rare supernovae, researchers are paving the way for new insights into some
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Originally published on Phys.org on 2/19/2026