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New Supernova Analysis Suggests Cosmic Expansion Is Slowing

Researchers report a progenitor‑age bias in Type Ia supernovae, undermining the standard‑candle assumption.

Overview

  • The peer‑reviewed study from Yonsei University, published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, reanalyzes Type Ia supernova distances.
  • Direct host‑galaxy age measurements reveal a 5.5‑sigma correlation between standardized brightness and progenitor age, dubbed the Progenitor Age Bias.
  • After correcting for this bias, the supernova data disagree with the ΛCDM constant‑dark‑energy model at more than 9 sigma and indicate present‑day deceleration.
  • The corrected results align with Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument measurements that exclude supernovae and may help ease the Hubble‑constant discrepancy.
  • The authors, including Junhyuk Son and Young‑Wook Lee, call the finding provisional and point to upcoming Rubin Observatory surveys of ~20,000 supernovae for decisive tests.