Is Einstein's Cosmological Constant really no longer a Blunder?

Answer 1

Yes, it is true that scientists no longer believe that Einstein's cosmological constant was a blunder. Einstein thought so but it is now believed that he was correct in theory if not in exactness.

Newer observations of galaxies and galaxy clusters have shown that there is a cosmological constant. They call it dark energy, which is kind of like anti-gravity in that the galaxy clusters are moving away from each other at a higher rate than just the big bang and gravity theories can show. So a cosmological constant like Einstein's must be added.

He may have not had the constant exactly the right amount but it has been shown that he was on the right track. Calling it still a blunder is like calling Newton's law of gravity a blunder because he could not measure it exactly the same as we can now. Of course, he didn't have the same sensitive instruments or computers that we now have.

Answer 2

It is still a blunder as the intent was to balance gravity and prevent collapse of what Einstein thought was a static universe.
The "current" cosmological constant -- AKA dark energy -- is to explain the increasing rate of the expansion of the universe, and has to be a lot stronger than the one Einstein was envisioning.

Answer 3

Hi. I, for one, find it amusing that Einstein's "mistake" was that he though he made a mistake. Kinda goes along with the old saying "I thought I made a mistake once, but I was wrong."