What are the implications of the study of the supernovas that show the universe is increasing its rate of expansion? Why do scientists oppose the idea of an open universe?
1 Answer
Current knowledge indicates an expanding universe. NO references were found that indicate any scientists oppose the idea.
Explanation:
"an expanding or contracting universe is inevitable given general relativity"
http://www.astro.umd.edu/~miller/teaching/honr229Xs12/lecture08.pdf
Implications may be a more rapid approach to the "heat death" of the universe. Certainly, distances between galaxies will increase, but until we really are capable of inter-stellar travel in reasonable times, that may not be much of a practical concern.
It is true that some scientists continue to explore other options. I do not take that as a specific opposition to an open universe theory, but a parallel course of investigation. The major obstacle to a closed universe theory is the absence (so far) of the necessary mass or energy needed to fulfill mathematics of contraction.
http://abyss.uoregon.edu/~js/21st_century_science/lectures/lec21.html
http://superstringtheory.com/cosmo/cosmo21.html
http://www2.lbl.gov/Science-Articles/Archive/SNAP-3.html
Good background material:
https://www.physicsoftheuniverse.com/topics_bigbang_expanding.html
