The Evidence Continues to Come In- The Universe Has a Special Direction, Pointing At Earth!

Today's contribution includes the following observations:

With no cosmological assumptions other than the existence of a suitably averaged linear Hubble law, we find with decisive Bayesian evidence (lnB ≫ 5) that the Hubble constant averaged in independent spherical radial shells is closer to its asymptotic value when referred to the rest frame of the Local Group (LG), rather than the standard rest frame of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB). 

Translation: If the Universe is expanding, then its expansion is with respect to the "Local Group" (that is, where we are), rather than with respect to the Cosmic Microwave Background (which the Copernican Principle would allow).

Our results clearly show, however, that for spherical (monopole) averages the Hubble flow is closer to being uniform in the frame of the LG or LS, rather than the frame indicated by treating the CMB dipole as being entirely due to a boost. 

Translation: "Boost" above, means the assumed motion of the Local Group through space.

These results are difficult to reconcile with the standard kinematic interpretation of the Local Group moving in response to the gravitational attraction of the clustering dipole. 

Translation: These results are difficult to reconcile with the foundational assumption of modern cosmology, the Copernican Principle.

This is completely unexpected in the standard framework, since the cosmic rest frame and the frame of minimum Hubble flow variance should be one and the same. 

Translation: The cosmic rest frame appears to be the Local Group (where we are), since the CMB dipole cannot be attributed to the supposed motion of the Earth/LG through space. This is a dramatic and potentially conclusive falsification of the fundamental assumption of cosmology: The Copernican Principle.

This suggestion challenges a basic assumption of observational cosmology, and if upheld by future investigations, will clearly have important consequences. 

"The Principle" is the most important film you are going to see next year. We have been telling you that all of modern cosmology is faced with observations so dramatically at odds with the "we're nothing special" Copernican Principle, that we could be on the verge of the most profound shift in our view of the cosmos and our place in it since......well, since Copernicus!

I am forwarding this paper to several cosmologists and physicists who appear in, or have consulted with, "The Principle", and hope to have more soon........