• Our strange, expanding universe is heating up, researchers say.
  • The violent gravitational pull of galaxy clusters may be to blame for the temperature spike.
  • This flies in the face of the long-held theory that an expanding universe makes for a cooler universe.

    Is it just us, or is it getting hot out there? New research shows our rapidly growing universe keeps heating up.

    🌌 You love badass space stuff. So do we. Let's explore the universe together.

    Nearly a century ago, scientists worked out that our universe is expanding. More recently, researchers discovered this rate of expansion is increasing as time ticks by. As our universe expands, the galaxies, stars, planets, and all they contain move farther and farther apart. This means our universe should be getting colder as it expands.

    But that may not be the case after all. A team of international scientists compared the temperature of cosmic gas farther away from Earth (and, therefore, farther back in time) to younger gases nearer to our planet and to the present day.

    According to their calculations, in the past 10 billion years, the mean temperature of these gases has increased by more than 10 times, Universe Today reports. Their analysis revealed the cosmic gas spread across our universe can reach temperatures of roughly 4 million degrees Fahrenheit. The scientists published their findings last month in the Astrophysical Journal.

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    What's the deal here? Astrophysicist and study author Yi-Kuan Chiang of Ohio State University broke it down in a statement:

    "As the universe evolves, gravity pulls dark matter and gas in space together into galaxies and clusters of galaxies. The drag is violent—so violent that more and more gas is shocked and heated up."

    🔭 The Best Telescopes for Stargazing

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    Gskyer AZ Astronomical Refractor Telescope

    Gskyer AZ Astronomical Refractor Telescope

    With more than 19,000 reviews on Amazon and a 4.4/5 rating, it's not hard to see why the Gskyer telescope is a fan favorite. This option features a 70mm aperture and fully coated optimal lenses to offer a crisp, clear view of the night's sky. Tech savvy stargazers will appreciate wireless remote, smart phone adapter, and the additional Barlow lens that triples the magnification of each eye piece. Thanks to its adjustable, aluminum alloy tripod, this telescope is suitable for every member of the family.

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    HEXEUM Telescope 70500

    HEXEUM HEXEUM Telescope 70500

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    Credit: Amazon

    If you're looking for a telescope for kids, or if you're a beginner, this HEXEUM model is a high-quality choice. It comes with an 70mm aperture, plus two eyepieces at 10mm and 25mm each. You'll particularly love that this telescope comes with a phone adapter, which means you can attach your phone to the eyepiece and finally get an amazing photo of the night sky.

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    ECOOPRO 70mm Astronomy Refractor Telescope

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    Easy to set up and compact, this telescope comes with a 70mm aperture, two eye pieces, a finder scope, and a tripod. Perfect for astrology or even bird watching, you can set it up on a tabletop with the tripod set to 15 inches, or extend the legs as long as 47 inches. It also comes with a map of the moon and stars for easy reference.

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    ESSLNB Kids' Telescope

    ESSLNB ESSLNB Kids' Telescope
    Credit: Amazon

    ESSLNB's telescope is a great choice for kids or beginners. It features a built-in reversing lens, which means that none of the images you see will ever be upside down. Its 70mm lens gives you a wide range of vision, and the telescope's brightness makes everything easy to see. Plus, you can connect your phone and finally take a decent picture of the night sky.

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    Emarth Telescope

    Emarth Telescope

    Beginner stargazers will find a lot to love about Emarth's Telescope. Using it is easy: All you need to do is point the tube in the direction of the desired object and take a gander. With two high-quality eyepieces (70mm and 360mm) that provide low- and high-power views of celestial objects, you'll be able to satisfy your stargazing wishes with ease.

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    NASA Lunar Telescope for Kids

    NASA Lunar Telescope for Kids

    Consider NASA Lunar Telescope the perfect option for avid adventurers or kids who are yearning to spontaneously stargaze. Clocking in at a little over two pounds, this option is lightweight enough to stow in the trunk of your car. This telescope features a multi-coated, extra-low dispersion optical glass to ensure you'll score a clear, perfectly contrasted view of the night's sky.

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    Celestron 60 DX Portable Telescope

    Celestron 60 DX Portable Telescope

    Great for beginners (and priced accordingly), this option features a wide, 60 millimeter aperture that will make stars and constellations appear bright and clear. With two eyepieces—8mm to 20mm—it's suitable for a range of stargazing experiences. To top it off, the telescope comes with a tripod, a smartphone adapter, a finder scope, and a travel case.

    Measuring changes in our universe's temperature over the course of roughly 10 billion years isn't an easy task. The team compiled data from two missions: the European Space Agency's Planck Infrared Astronomical Satellite, which launched in 2009 and has since studied cosmic background radiation, and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, a multi-observatory survey that's generated some of the most detailed charts of the universe to date.

    The scientists measured these gases using a concept called redshift. Astronomers use redshift to study how far away certain objects are. Objects that are farther away have longer (and redder) light wavelengths than objects that are nearer to us. The scientists also developed a brand new method through which they could estimate the temperature of an object from its light.

    So what does all this mean for us? Well, if the universe is getting hotter, that might mean we'll also see an increase in cosmic radiation. That doesn't bode well for us Earthlings.

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