News: Research
McDonald Observatory
Early Dark Energy Could Resolve Cosmology’s Two Biggest Puzzles
Michael Boylan-Kolchin and others show “early dark energy” might help solve the Hubble Tension and explain why there are more early galaxies than expected.
Improved Method for Estimating the Hubble Constant with Gravitational Waves
There’s a big debate in cosmology about how fast the universe is currently expanding.
The Texas Scientist
James Webb Space Telescope Surfaces New Cosmic Questions
A new telescope takes us back to when the cosmic lights went on.
The Texas Scientist
A Quantum Test
Steven Weinberg of The University of Texas at Austin envisioned an experiment to poke holes in quantum mechanics.
James Webb Telescope Catches Glimpse of Possible First-Ever ‘Dark Stars’
Stars powered with dark matter still need proving but could reveal clues about the nature of one of the universe’s great mysteries.
Scientists use Exotic Stars to Tune into Hum from Cosmic Symphony
A team of astrophysicists has found evidence for gravitational waves that oscillate with periods of years to decades.
James Webb Space Telescope Images Challenge Theories of How Universe Evolved
Hefty young galaxies defy the reigning model of cosmology, called "dark energy + cold dark matter" or ΛCDM.
Cosmic Dawn III Recreates the Early Universe Epoch of Reionization in Unprecedented Detail
Scientists create the most detailed and accurate simulation ever produced of the first billion years of the universe.
The Texas Scientist
Supernovae in the Sky
Gravitational wave astronomy started with a bang back in 2015, and 90 such events have swelled into a cosmic chorus since then.
Cosmic Rumbles: New Faculty Probe Universe for Gravitational Waves
A couple who joined the Department of Physics in 2020, Pablo Laguna and Deirdre Shoemaker, study violent events in the universe, like when cosmic heavyweights collide.
