lensing
LEN-sing
Definition
The phenomenon in which light from a distant, bright source is bent and magnified as it passes by a massive object, such as a galaxy or black hole, due to the curvature of space-time.
Etymology
Derived from the noun 'lens,' which comes from the Latin 'lens' meaning 'lentil,' referring to the shape of double-convex glass lenses. The term was extended in physics to describe how gravity acts like a piece of optical equipment.
In the news
The article uses the term to describe how the Hubble Space Telescope observes distant cosmic objects by utilizing the gravitational pull of massive structures to magnify the light. This mechanism is key to understanding how astronomers visualize remote regions of the universe.
Bringing physics down to Earth through rocket science
Read the full article ↗Physics World