Dark energy— the dominant form of energy in space—is driving the universe's ever-accelerating expansion, but its nature remains a complete mystery. Here's what you need to know about dark energy .
Dark energy is a hypothetical form of energy proposed by physicists to explain why the universe is not only expanding, but expanding at an ever-increasing rate.
Think of dark energy as the “evil counterpart” to gravity—an “anti-gravity” force that creates negative pressure that fills the universe and stretches the very fabric of space-time. In doing so, dark energy pushes cosmic objects apart at ever-increasing speeds instead of pulling them together like gravity does.
Dark energy is estimated to make up about 68% to 72% of the total energy and matter in the universe—the matter/energy "budget" of the universe—meaning it strongly dominates both dark matter and everyday matter.
The only real answer to the question “what is dark energy?” right now is “we don’t know,” although that may sound unsatisfying. However, scientists aren’t completely in the dark about it. There are a number of leading “contenders” to explain dark energy, including the vacuum energy of space—particles that literally pop in and out of empty space—and a “fifth force” responsible for the negative pressure that could be causing the accelerated expansion of the universe.
Other possibilities are a variety of different "flavors" of fields that could account for dark energy, such as a low-energy field called "quintessence," tachyon fields - hypothetical particles that travel faster than light and thus reverse time...
All of this is still purely hypothetical, meaning the only way we can really “know” what dark energy is right now is through its effects on the universe.
Frequently asked questions about dark energy
Why is dark energy a necessary part of the universe?
About 25 years ago, it was determined that the Universe is expanding and that the expansion is accelerating over time. This has been going on for the past 5,000 million years and is causing galaxies to move away from each other. Although all cosmological observations support this phenomenon, we still do not have an explanation for this expansion trend. However, we do know the properties of the substance that causes this effect: it must be a substance or liquid that overcomes the gravitational attraction, and it must be diluted and diffused throughout space-time.
In 1999, physicist Michael Turner named the hypothetical component of the cosmological budget: dark energy. The latter component is necessary to provide a plausible explanation for the current expansion trend of the Universe. Without it, the expansion would slow down and the Universe would eventually implode, narrowing the gaps between galaxies observed in the large-scale structure.
How do we know that the expansion driven by dark energy is not just related to the Big Bang?
Yes, our cosmological model predicts an expanding universe, and therefore the existence of an event we call the Hot Big Bang. However, the current state of expansion is not constant over time, but is instead accelerating; therefore, this accelerating rate of expansion must be driven by another factor, one that was not primarily active in the early stages of the Universe or when galaxies formed.
Why is dark energy so mysterious?
Because we can’t measure it directly, let alone know what it’s made of, it’s challenging to build experiments to detect and study its true nature. In addition, current observations don’t agree with the current value of the Hubble velocity, so we’re not sure whether dark energy changes over time, and if so, how it affects the dynamics of the expansion. We have clues, but we’re still a long way from “revealing” the nature and characteristics of dark energy.
What are the main points of doubt about dark energy?
According to most observations, the most likely “candidate” for dark energy is the cosmological constant, which is often associated with fluctuations in the quantum vacuum. This is the preferred (and simplest) explanation for dark energy, so much so that it is included in the standard cosmological model. But there are other proposals, such as scalar fields, galleons, axions, tachyonic fields, or even dynamical dark energy models, among many others.
It’s hard to predict whether we’ll solve the mystery of dark energy in the next 10 years, but for now, there’s no doubt that cosmologists are on the right track to understanding its role. There’s a lot of data to guide us along this journey, and there’s no doubt that we’re making progress in understanding what dark energy is and where it came from in the universe.
Let's learn about the structure, symbols and operating principles of transformers in the most accurate way.
From better picture and sound quality to voice control and more, these AI-powered features are making smart TVs so much better!
DeepSeek initially had high hopes. As an AI chatbot marketed as a strong competitor to ChatGPT, it promised intelligent conversational capabilities and experiences.
It's easy to miss important details when you're jotting down other essentials, and trying to take notes while chatting can be distracting. Fireflies.ai is the solution.
Axolot Minecraft will be a great assistant for players when operating underwater if they know how to use them.
A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead's configuration is rated quite highly, so you will need to consider the configuration before deciding to download.
DeceptionAds is a new form of malvertising, where scammers use legitimate advertising platforms and make sure their malicious sites avoid censorship as much as possible.
Wondering what the Airtag Found Moving With You warning is? It's a safety feature on AirTags designed to prevent them from being used to track you.
Given how well A Minecraft Movie did at the box office, a sequel seems like just a matter of when, not if. Here's what fans want from the next Minecraft movie.
Sunday Scaries is also known as the fear of Sunday. This is a common psychological stress that many people experience. The following tips will help you overcome that feeling and have a meaningful Sunday.
In Numerology, the number 33 is often considered a powerful and mystical number. Here's what you need to know about the number 33 in Numerology.
Microplastics could be bad for your heart. Here’s everything you need to know about this shocking study – and some expert-backed ways to avoid harming your health.
Dark energy is driving the accelerating expansion of the universe, but its nature remains a complete mystery. Here's what you need to know about dark energy.
For a long time, with the development and popularity of social networking platforms, the "blue tick" has gradually become one of the most powerful characters in the internet world.
iOS 18 is a significant update over previous versions. Besides prominent additions like home screen customization, satellite messaging, RCS support, control center improvements, etc., it also integrates some hidden features.
