The recent scientific study has leveraged observations of Quasars, the potent black holes to exhibit time dilation in the premature universe. This observation-based research scrutinized the intensity of 190 quasars spread across the universe and traced back nearly 1.5 billion years succeeding the Big Bang. The comparison between the intensity of these primeval quasars and those in existence presently revealed that specific fluctuations which occur within a defined span today happened at a pace five times slower in the earliest quasars.
Crucial Findings of the Study
An interesting highlight of the study is the slower passage of time in the past. The uniform expansion of the universe has led to this decelerated pace of time in comparison with the present. Roughly, time elapsed one-fifth as rapidly as it does now. The observations date nearly 12.3 billion years ago when the universe was approximately a tenth of its current age. As per Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity, time and space are interconnected. Since the Big Bang, the universe has been persistent in its all-round expansion.
There have been earlier evidences of time dilation dating nearly 7 billion years recorded by scientists based on the observation of supernovas, or stellar explosions. It has been found that events unfolding in the past seem to be slower due to the known duration taken by today’s supernovas to brighten and fade from our present time perspective.
Impact and Potential Implications of the Study
Time’s complex nature and its interplay with the universe’s expansion are highlighted by this research. Scientists aim at gaining a deeper understanding of the concept of time, its potential implications like advanced propulsion systems like warp drives, and even possibilities of time travel by exploring more distant objects and phenomena.
Quasars: A Brief Overview
Quasars, the supremely radiant objects, served as a “clock” in the study. These are supermassive black holes located centrally in galaxies, millions to billions of times more massive than the sun. The strong gravitational forces of these black holes pull matter towards them, producing potent radiation and high-energy particle jets while being encased by a glowing disk of matter.
The Role of Quasars in Studying Time Dilation
Quasars have an edge over individual stellar explosions because their brightness remains observable from the early phases of the universe. The changes in quasar brightness display statistical features and time scales, which can be employed to quantify the passage of time.
Understanding Time Dilation
In physics, time dilation is an event that takes place due to variations in relative motion or gravitational fields. It is an outcome of Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, both the Special Theory of Relativity and the General Theory of Relativity. The special theory explicates time dilation when two observers are moving relative to each other. As per this theory, time is not absolute but is relative to the observer’s frame of reference. In situations where objects move relative to one another at speeds near to the speed of light, time seems to pass more sluggishly for the moving object compared to the stationary one, leading to time dilation or time-stretching for the moving object from the standpoint of the stationary observer.