Gravitational Lensing: What It Is And How It Is Helping Us Discover New Galaxies

The video explores the concept of lenses, focusing on gravitational lensing, a phenomenon where gravity acts as a lens to bend light from distant galaxies. This is rooted in Einstein's theory of general relativity, which suggests that massive objects distort space-time, affecting light paths. Gravitational lensing allows astronomers to discover new galaxies and study dark matter, which is invisible but has mass. The video also discusses the Einstein ring, a visual effect of perfect alignment in gravitational lensing, and highlights ongoing studies like the Dark Energy Survey to map dark matter in the universe.

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