Graph of BOSS Quasar Results (IMAGE) DOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Caption Until recently, three-dimensional maps by BOSS (red dot, right of center) and other surveys were able to measure the regular distribution of galaxies back to an average of only about five and a half billion years ago, a time when the expansion of the universe was already accelerating. BOSS's quasar measurements (red dot, left), by measuring the distribution of intergalactic gas, have now probed the structure of the early universe at a time when expansion was still slowing under the influence of gravity. The quasar data gives new access to the transition from deceleration to acceleration caused by dark energy. Credit Graph by Zosia Rostomian, Lawrence Berkeley national Laboratory, and Nic Ross, BOSS Lyman-alpha team, Berkeley Lab Usage Restrictions With credit as given License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.