By Alec Fernandes
A new study from Bielefeld University in Germany suggests something surprising—our entire solar system may be moving through the universe much faster than the best scientific models say it should.
To figure out how fast we're traveling, scientists measured the distribution and intensity of radio waves from far-off galaxies moving relative to us. This new set of data shows us hurtling through space at more than three times the speed previously expected. "If our solar system is indeed moving this fast, we need to question fundamental assumptions about the large-scale structure of the universe," Professor Dominik J. Schwarz, co-author of the study, explained.
The measurements from these radio-wave galaxies revealed another surprise. Not only are we moving much faster than expected, but the universe's matter seems to be significantly lopsided. This also contradicts the standard model of cosmology, which predicts a more even distribution. Researchers found a "dipole" lopsidedness measuring nearly four times stronger than previously estimated.
