2011 Nobel Prize in Physics: Discovery of Expanding Universe by Observing Distant Supernovae

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111004091704.htm

by ScienceDaily

Oct. 4, 2011

Today is a big day for American physicists Saul Perlmutter (Head of the Supernova Cosmology Project, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory at the University of California), Adam Riess (Head of the High-z Supernova Search Team at Australian National University), and Brian Schmidt (Johns Hopkins University and Space Telescope Science Institute) who will all share the 2011 Noble Prize for Physics.  They won for their scientific study of far away supernovae which they had been observing in separate studies for a long period of time.   They each discovered that the rate at which the universe is growing has been increasing faster than anyone had ever known.  They were able to conclude this finding by using new modern day technologies such as extremely powerful telescopes, more advanced computer software, and digital imaging tools.  The Noble prize is a very high honor.   This is a great achievement for the three scientists.   They have been working long and hard for this moment and it has finally come.   All their hard work has paid off.   Making a scientific discovery is not as easy as it sounds.   I mean it took over twenty years to find all the data to support their hypothesis and prove it correct.   According to their finding, if the universe continues expanding at a faster rate it will eventually end up as ice.  I think this is really cool because I’d rather freeze in time than burn up.  At least that way, there is some chance that process can be reversed one day.