NEW YORK — Scientists are intensifying their investigation into the nature of dark energy, a mysterious force that could determine the ultimate fate of the universe.
Unraveling the Mystery of Dark Energy
This dominant force constitutes approximately 70% of the universe and exerts immense power, driving the accelerated expansion of stars and galaxies away from each other.
Researchers are making strides in understanding its behavior, focusing on a pivotal question: Is dark energy a constant force, as long presumed, or is it diminishing, a concept recently proposed?
Evidence Suggests Dark Energy May Be Weakening
Findings presented at an American Physical Society meeting on Wednesday lend weight to the possibility that dark energy is weakening. However, scientists emphasize that certainty remains elusive, and the implications for our cosmological understanding are still under investigation.
These updated results stem from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) collaboration, an international research initiative mapping the three-dimensional distribution of galaxies over 11 billion years of cosmic history. By meticulously observing galaxy movement, scientists can deduce the forces influencing their trajectories.
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DESI Data Bolsters Waning Dark Energy Hypothesis
DESI, having initially analyzed 6 million galaxies and quasars, has expanded its dataset to nearly 15 million. This enhanced data, combined with measurements from exploding stars, residual light from the early universe, and galaxy shape distortions, reinforces the hypothesis that dark energy may be diminishing over time.
Bhuvnesh Jain, a cosmologist at the University of Pennsylvania unaffiliated with the research, commented, “It’s transitioning from an initially surprising observation to a point where we might need to reconsider our fundamental cosmological models and begin anew.”
Further Research Needed for Definitive Conclusions
While compelling, the current evidence does not yet meet the stringent statistical benchmarks required in physics to definitively dismiss the constant dark energy model. The DESI collaboration aims to map approximately 50 million galaxies and quasars by 2026. Other global initiatives, including the European Space Agency’s Euclid mission and the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile, are also focused on dark energy and are expected to release data in the coming years.
Cosmologist Kris Pardo of the University of Southern California, also not involved in the recent study, stated, “We need confirmation from multiple independent collaborations achieving similar ‘gold standard’ measurements to confidently conclude that dark energy is indeed weakening.”
Cosmic Scenarios: Eternal Expansion or the Big Crunch?
According to scientists, if dark energy remains constant, the universe is projected to expand indefinitely, becoming increasingly cold, desolate, and static.
However, if dark energy diminishes, as current findings suggest, the universe’s expansion could eventually halt, potentially leading to a gravitational collapse known as the “Big Crunch.”
Mustapha Ishak-Boushaki, a cosmologist and collaborator on the study from the University of Texas at Dallas, noted that while a Big Crunch might seem bleak, “Now, there is the possibility that everything comes to an end. Whether that’s good or bad, remains an open question.”