The term dark energy was first coined in 1998 when experts believed that they had discovered the mysterious substance.
It was thought that dark energy made up just over 68 per cent of all energy in the universe and permeated through space.
Experts believed that dark energy acted as a counter to gravity and was responsible for the universe’s ever accelerating expansion.
What dark matter actually is remains a mystery but it was first conceptualised in 1977 by scientists who suggested that the substance, which is thought to make up 27 per cent of the universe, is responsible for all of the unseen substance in space.
Its existence would go towards explaining why galaxies rotate and why they stick together, rather than stars flying off in all directions.
However, a team of researchers from the University of Geneva are now claiming both dark matter and dark energy may not exist, and there are other models available to explain their properties.
In a new study, André Maeder, honorary professor in the Department of Astronomy in the University of Geneva’s Faculty of Science, says that there is a “scale invariance” that must be taken into consideration when analysing the rapid expansion of the universe after the Big Bang.
Prof Maeder: “In this model, there is a starting hypothesis that hasn’t been taken into account, in my opinion.
“By that I mean the scale invariance of the empty space; in other words, the empty space and its properties do not change following a dilatation or contraction.”
In Albert Einstein’s equations of general relativity, empty space operates on what is known as the “cosmological constant” – IE it is the same throughout the universe.
By instead applying a model based on scale invariance – suggesting that there is no cosmological constant and it is dependent on where in the universe – the team found that the universe would still be expanding and galaxies would still stick together.
This would mean that there is no need for dark matter and dark energy and the Standard Model would need to be re-examined.
However, Prof Maeder says that a lot more research needs to be done to consider this hypothesis.
He said: “The announcement of this model, which at last solves two of astronomy’s greatest mysteries, remains true to the spirit of science: nothing can ever be taken for granted, not in terms of experience, observation or the reasoning of human beings.”