The Extragalactic Interstellar Medium - Measuring Dust Extinction using Gravitational Lensing

One of the most intriguing recent results in the physical sciences, has been the growing body of evidence that 70% of the energy content in the universe comes from an unknown energy field ( dark energy ). One of the most promising methods for quantifying dark energy, is using SNe Ia as standard candles. However, a key issue in SN Ia studies is whether the results are biased by cosmic dust. The interstellar medium (ISM) of galaxies causes light passing through to be partially extinguished.