What If The Cosmological Constant Is NOT Constant?

What If The Cosmological Constant Is NOT Constant?

From PBS Space Time by PBS

April 29, 2026 · 23 min

About this episode

The episode explores the implications of a potentially variable cosmological constant on the fate of the universe.

Weathered: Earth's Extreme is available globally at: https://to.pbs.org/WeatheredST or the PBS App (US Only) Check out the Space Time Merch Store https://www.pbsspacetime.com/shop We know that the universe is getting bigger. And we know that the speed that the universe is getting bigger is also getting bigger. The standard assumption is that the acceleration rate is itself constant, which will surely result in ultimate heat death. But a recent survey of primordial sound waves frozen into the way galaxies are sprinkled through the universe reveals that this fate is now in question. PBS Member Stations rely on viewers like you. To support your local station, go to:http://to.pbs.org/DonateSPACE Sign Up on Patreon to get access to the Space Time Discord! https://www.patreon.com/pbsspacetime Sign up for the mailing list to get episode notifications and hear special announcements! https://mailchi.mp/1a6eb8f2717d/spacetime Search the Entire Space Time Library Here: https://search.pbsspacetime.com/ Hosted by Matt O'Dowd Written by Richard Dyer & Matt O'Dowd Post Production by Leonardo Scholzer, Yago Ballarini & Stephanie Faria Directed by Andrew Kornhaber Associate Producer: Bahar…

People in this episode

Host: Matt O'Dowd

Topics covered

  • cosmological constant
  • universe expansion
  • primordial sound waves
  • galaxy distribution
  • heat death

Keywords

  • cosmological constant
  • universe
  • expansion
  • heat death
  • primordial sound waves
  • galaxies
  • acceleration

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: PBS, PBS Digital Studios, Kornhaber Brown

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