Is everything we know about the universe wrong?

BBC Inside Science

BBC

Technology, Science

4.5 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 24 April 2025

⏱️ 29 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

For the last week or so, the world of physics has had just one conversation.

Have we found a new way of understanding the universe? And if so, what does this mean for our understanding of how we all came to exist – and even our fate?

These big questions were prompted by new data from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument team at the Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona. To explain what was found, whether it’s right and just how excited we should be, we’re joined by astrophysics professor Catherine Heymans and cosmologist Andrew Pontzen.

Also this week, what became of the Winchcombe meteorite? We attempt to explain some seriously advanced maths in less than two minutes, and Penny Sarchet from the New Scientist brings us her picks of the week’s science news.

Presenter: Marnie Chesterton Producers: Gerry Holt, Ella Hubber & Sophie Ormiston Reporter: Gareth Mitchell Editor: Martin Smith Production Co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth

Transcript

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0:00.0	You're about to listen to a BBC podcast, but this is about something else you might enjoy.
0:05.4	My name's Katie Lecky and I'm an assistant commissioner for on demand music on BBC Sounds.
0:10.8	The BBC has an incredible musical heritage and culture and as a music lover, I love being part of that.
0:17.5	With music on sounds, we offer collections and mixes for everything, from workouts to
0:22.4	helping you nod off, boogie in your kitchen, or even just a moment of calm. And they're all put
0:28.3	together by people who know their stuff. So if you want some expertly curated music in your life,
0:35.0	check out BBC Sounds.
0:41.3	BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts. Welcome to the podcast of BBC Inside Science, first broadcast on Thursday the 27th of March 2025.
0:49.3	Hello, coming up, a meteorite, a maths prize and the mysterious substance that makes up 68% of the universe becomes slightly less mysterious.
1:00.9	Plus, Penny Sarshey, managing editor at New Scientist, has dropped by with some stories that have captured her attention this week.
1:07.5	Penny, welcome, and want to give us a tease about what you'll be talking about
1:11.1	later? How about the small matter of life on Mars, maybe? Oh, love it. Yeah. Okay. Looking forward
1:16.1	to that. But we start with something massive that controls the ultimate fate of the universe
1:22.4	and some new research that could turn our current thinking on its head. Did Albert Einstein have it all wrong?
1:30.1	New findings on dark energy.
1:31.6	You're challenging one of his theories and our understanding of the universe.
1:35.5	New research on dark energy suggests it may be weakening.
1:40.1	And if this trend continues, this is what matters to you.
1:42.8	It could cause the universe to eventually collapse.
1:46.0	I love it.
1:47.4	News leaving out a crucial time scale there, I should say,
1:51.0	don't worry, universe not collapsing in our lifetimes.
	...

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