cosmological constant

noun

: a constant term used in the relativistic equations for gravity to represent a repulsive force which may account in part for the rate of expansion of the universe

Examples of cosmological constant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web But in an ironic twist, the one thing the dark dimension hypothesis cannot explain is why the cosmological constant is so staggeringly small—a puzzling fact that essentially initiated this whole line of inquiry. Steve Nadis, WIRED, 25 Feb. 2024 But in an ironic twist, the one thing the dark dimension hypothesis cannot explain is why the cosmological constant is so staggeringly small — a puzzling fact that essentially initiated this whole line of inquiry. Steve Nadis, Quanta Magazine, 1 Feb. 2024 The masses of the postulated dark gravitons are, roughly speaking, an integer times a constant, M, whose value is tied to the cosmological constant. Steve Nadis, Quanta Magazine, 1 Feb. 2024 So is this issue with the cosmological constant being so small, is that the main problem that the vacuum poses? Steven Strogatz, Quanta Magazine, 26 July 2023 The fact that the vacuum energy density the cosmological constant has, this very tiny value is certainly one of the most puzzling. Steven Strogatz, Quanta Magazine, 26 July 2023 Chief among them is the cosmological constant, which is essentially the mathematical equivalent of dark energy. Darren Orf, Popular Mechanics, 13 July 2023 And the cosmological constant, in turn, is thought to get its energy from the vacuum. Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 24 Apr. 2023 In other words, if dark energy is the cosmological constant, then w should equal -1. Ramin Skibba, WIRED, 30 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cosmological constant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1928, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cosmological constant was in 1928

Dictionary Entries Near cosmological constant

Cite this Entry

“Cosmological constant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cosmological%20constant. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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