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A strange twist in the universe’s oldest light may be bigger than we thought
Researchers investigating a mysterious cosmic phenomenon called cosmic birefringence have created a new approach to reduce uncertainty in how it is measured. The advance, reported in Physical Review Letters, could improve the precision of observations that probe fundamental physics.
The study is the first to quantitatively examine uncertainty in the birefringence angle. This measurement is important because it may provide clues about unknown physical theories that violate the universe’s left right symmetry. It could also help scientists better understand dark matter and dark energy.
A Subtle Twist in the Universe’s Oldest Light
The cosmic microwave background, which is the faint afterglow left behind by the Big Bang, contains valuable information about the early universe. Recent observations suggest that the polarization of this ancient light may undergo a slight rotation. This effect is known as cosmic birefringence.
Scientists suspect that this subtle rotation could be linked to hypothetical elementary particles called axions. Precisely determining the amount of rotation, known as the birefringence angle, is therefore essential for testing possible new physics. Researchers measure this angle by analyzing the strength of a signal called the CMB EB correlation. Earlier studies estimated the rotation angle to be around 0.3 degrees.
Investigating the Measurement Uncertainty
The research team was led by University of Tokyo Graduate School of Science PhD candidate Fumihiro Naokawa, working with Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (Kavli IPMU, WPI) Project Associate Professor Toshiya Namikawa. Their analysis carefully examined the uncertainties that affect measurements of cosmic birefringence.
Their results suggest that the rotation angle may actually be larger than the previously reported value of about 0.3 degrees.
“Can you tell what day it is, just by looking at a clock? No, you cannot. To determine the date from the clock hands, you need to know how many times the hands have rotated since a specific reference date and time. In scientific terms, a situation like this clock’s hands — where observing only the current state does not reveal how many rotations occurred in the past — is described as having 360-degree phase ambiguity.
“Like a clock, the CMB we can observe is only in its current state. Therefore, rotation angles such as 0.3 degrees, 180.3 degrees, and 360.3 degrees should be indistinguishable. This means the birefringence angle has a phase ambiguity of 180 degrees,” said Naokawa.
Solving the Phase Ambiguity Problem
To address this issue, the researchers developed a technique to resolve the ambiguity. They discovered that the detailed shape of the EB correlation signal contains clues about how many times the polarization direction may have rotated.
By analyzing these subtle features within the EB correlation signal, scientists may be able to determine the true rotation angle and eliminate the ambiguity.
Improving Future Cosmology Experiments
The new method provides a tool for analyzing future high precision observations of cosmic birefringence. Upcoming experiments, including the Simons Observatory and LiteBIRD, could use this technique to test new theoretical models of fundamental physics.
The team also discovered that when this phase uncertainty is considered, cosmic birefringence influences another signal in the cosmic microwave background known as the EE correlation. Scientists use the EE correlation to estimate the Universe’s “optical depth,” an important quantity for studying cosmic reionization. Because of this connection, the new findings may require researchers to revisit previously reported optical depth measurements.
A New Way to Confirm Cosmic Birefringence
In a separate study also published in Physical Review Letters, Naokawa examined ways to reduce errors introduced by telescopes when measuring cosmic birefringence. He proposed a method to confirm the effect by observing particular astronomical sources, including radio galaxies powered by supermassive black holes.
These observations could provide another way to verify cosmic birefringence and may help scientists uncover deeper insights into the nature of dark energy.
The ‘7/10’ Rule: Giving 100% In Interval Training Might Hold You Back
If you’re a runner, it can feel tempting to go above your limits to improve your pace, duration, VO2 max, and other metrics.
But lots of research suggests that going easy is beneficial. Elite athletes only spend about 20% of their time intensively training, for instance – they’re mostly “zone 2” running.
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You might think the exception to that is the speedy part of interval training, which sees runners switch between jogs and sprints.
But even in those, researchers think we should only be giving it a seven out of 10 effort.
Why might “7/10 effort” help runners?
Researchers wanted to see how running at different intensities affected people’s VO2 max, or their ability to use oxygen efficiently, and their heart rates.
They asked participants to run three times. Each run was three minutes each, with two minutes’ rest in between.
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Runners were asked to run at three different levels of perceived intensity: 6/10, 7/10, and 8/10 effort. That was measured by how hard the participants felt they were pushing themselves in their run (they were told to keep the level of difficulty the same throughout).
The longer you spend close to your maximum VO2 and heart rate during exercise, the more your aerobic capacity will increase.
The scientists noticed that people who ran with 6/10 effort in interval training spent less time at 90% of their VO2 max and heart rate levels.
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But for those giving it a 7/10 or 8/10, the results were about the same; they spent roughly as long in the 0% or higher zone. And training at 7/10 provided less “ventilatory stress,” or difficulty breathing, than doing so at 8/10.
In other words, 6/10 seemed not to benefit interval runners as much as running at a 7/10 or 8/10. Both of those had the same potential to improve participants’ fitness, but the harder workout was more stressful with no added benefits.
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Does the 7/10 rule always help runners?
Probably not. Different runs, and even walks, have their own benefits for runners; this test was only done on interval runs, which involve shorter sprints.
The runners only spent nine minutes in total at this higher level of effort, too. Training your aerobic capacity is helpful for more efficient running, but running slowly and long can train your endurance.
But for short bursts of interval training, the study suggests that forcing yourself too far beyond your limit might not necessarily be better. And as anyone who’s struggled with exhausting sprints will know, any mercy is welcome.
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Trump’s Press Secretary Has A Bizarre Theory Why Allies Should Help The US Over Iran
Donald Trump’s press secretary has claimed other countries should help the US in the Iran crisis because they are “benefitting greatly” from the war.
The US president urged international partners including the UK to help keep the Strait of Hormuz open by sending warships to the region at the weekend amid Iranian attempts to effectively close the major oil shipping lane.
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But, when allies resisted Trump’s pleas, the president sent a chilling warning about the future of Nato – and vowed to “remember” which countries did not assist him.
A reporter asked Trump’s press secretary Karoline Leavitt why nations who were not informed of the US-Israel strikes on Iran in advance should risk their own militaries to help the war.
She replied: “These other countries are benefitting greatly from the United States military taking out the threat of Iran.”
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The Iran war has actually sent crude Brent oil prices sky high, exceeding $100 a barrel as Tehran disrupts oil exports from the Gulf region.
This has sparked wider fears about the cost of living as the global markets express great unease about the current conflict.
But Leavitt said: “The rogue Iranian regime has long not just posed a threat to the United States of America but of course to our Gulf and Arab partners in the region.
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“As you see, Iran has struck more than 300 civilian targets in the Gulf region.”
Tehran has escalated its aggression against the US military bases in the Middle East with widespread drone and missile attacks.
Leavitt added: “Their ballistic missile capability that the United States military is currently wiping out was a direct and imminent threat to our European allies as well as our bases in the region, which is why President Trump took this action in the first place.”
The White House’s reasoning behind its strikes against Iran have varied significantly, from claims about limiting Tehran’s abilities to make nuclear weapons to pushing for regime change.
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Senior figures in the British government have also been unable to explain exactly why the US decided to bomb Iran.
Leavitt also said: “This is something that not the United States but the entire western world has agreed with for many many years, so I think the president is absolutely right to call on these countries to do more, to work with the United States to strengthen the Strait of Hormuz so we can stop this terrorist regime from restricting the free flow of energy.
“The fact they are doing so just underscores why President Trump needed to take this action in the first place.”
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Trump Launches Strongest Attack On Starmer Yet Over ‘Terrible’ Iran Move
Donald Trump has claimed it was “terrible” of Keir Starmer not to get involved with the US attacks on Iran in his strongest criticism of the prime minister yet.
The US president said he was “very surprised” when Britain refused America’s requests to “send ships over” to the Middle East.
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“You’re our oldest ally,” the president said at a press conference while speaking about the UK. “We spent a lot of money on Nato, and all of these things to protect you, we were protecting them, we are working with them to protect Ukraine – that’s thousands of miles away, separated by a vast ocean.
“We don’t have to do that, but we did it – well, Biden did it,” he said.
But he insisted the US did not need to help with that war.
“I think it’s terrible,” Trump continued. “No, I was very surprised. I told him. We requested two aircraft carriers which they had. And he didn’t want to do it.
“Then right after the war essentially ended, meaning they were obliterated, he said, ‘I would like to send the aircraft carriers’.
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“I said, ‘I don’t need them after the war was ended and won. I need them before the war’.
“I was very upset with – not upset, I was not happy – with the UK. I think they will be involved, yeah, maybe.
“But they should be involved enthusiastically! We’ve been protecting these countries for years.”
He added: “Putin fears us. He doesn’t fear Nato. There’s no fear of Europe whatsoever.”
Downing Street has been approached for comment.
Trump has been fuming over Starmer’s reluctance to join the US in its offensive against Iran for weeks.
The UK rejected US requests to use British military bases to launch preemptive strikes against Iran shortly before America and Israel struck Tehran.
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A day later, Starmer gave Trump permission to use the sites for “limited and defensive” attacks.
The president has repeatedly insisted the PM is trying to join a war after it has already been “won” – even though hostilities continue.
On Saturday, Trump also requested international partners sent warships to the Strait of Hormuz to stop Iranian efforts to close the major waterway.
Starmer has resisted such calls, telling reporters today that the UK “will not be drawn into the wider war”.
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Trump also used his press conference to criticise Starmer for delaying a decision over sending military aide to the Middle East.
Trump said: “Keir Starmer yesterday told me, ‘I’m meeting with my team to make a determination’.
“I said, ‘you don’t need to meet your team, you’re the prime minister, you can make your own decision.’”
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