The Legend of Cosmological Homogeneity

TL;DR

This paper examines the longstanding assumption of large-scale matter homogeneity in cosmology, contrasting it with observational evidence of inhomogeneity, and discusses how scientific paradigms influence this understanding.

Contribution

It offers a critical analysis of the paradigm of cosmological homogeneity and explores the implications of observational inhomogeneity evidence.

Findings

Evidence of inhomogeneity up to survey limits

Discussion of paradigm influence on scientific interpretation

Reevaluation of the assumption of large-scale homogeneity

Abstract

For more than a half century cosmologists have been guided by the assumption that matter is distributed homogeneously on sufficiently large scales. On the other hand, observations have consistently yielded evidence for inhomogeneity in the distribution of matter right up to the limits of most surveys. The apparent paradox can be understood in terms of the role that paradigms play in the evolution of science.