Understanding the Cosmological Crisis on the Shape of the Universe Using Planck Data

Abstract

The shape of the universe has been a major topic of debate for scientists over the years. Since the beginning of time human beings have been seeking answers to intriguing questions concerning the nature of the universe, its shape, origin and its ultimate fate. Isaac Newton believed in a static and infinite universe according to his theory. The renowned physicist hypothesized that, distribution of matter was uniform and infinite and hence the universe was in balance. Einstein used the Riemannian geometry to describe the geometry of space. This has three spatial dimensions and another dimension which is temporal. Einstein achieved this by formulating the Einstein Field Equations (EFEs). In our present age cosmologists have been conducting experiments and developing mathematical models and theories to explain this cosmological phenomenon with many observations leading to antagonistic conclusions. In the past models favoring a flat universe have been widely accepted and applied by cosmologists around the globe. However recent results from analyses of 2018 data taken by the European Space Agency Planck satellite point out that our universe should be closed. These results have caused a lot of concern amongst cosmologists as such findings might be plunging us to a cosmological crisis. Detailed analysis of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) data confirmed the presence of enhanced lensing amplitude when in comparison with the ɅCDM model prediction. These discrepancies have triggered a number of studies that attempt to keenly reassess the level of discordance whereas some try to settle it by introducing new physics.