Astronomers have recorded a surprising signal: dark energy – the mysterious force that “blows up” the Universe at an accelerating rate – may be losing its power over time. This discovery challenges the standard cosmological model (ΛCDM), which has explained the evolution of the cosmos for decades.
According to the Lambda Cold Dark Matter model, dark energy is an unchanging constant introduced by Einstein. But data from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) in Arizona and further research published in the spring suggest that this force is evolving. But its influence on the expansion of the Universe is probably waning.
“This could undermine the foundations of modern cosmology,” notes Yashar Akrami, an associate professor at the Autonomous University of Madrid. To replace the constant, scientists have proposed the concept of a “quintessence field” – a dynamic form of dark energy that changes under the influence of time and space. This idea not only explains the observations, but also brings science closer to combining string theory with the standard model of the universe.
Science at a crossroads
If dark energy is indeed the quintessential energy, that means it could interact with gravity, the fundamental force that forms the structure of the cosmos. “Instead of four known forces, a fifth appears, related to dark energy,” explains Oxford astrophysicist Pedro Ferreira. However, there is no evidence of this interaction yet: within the Solar System, gravity obeys classical laws.
Ferreira believes science is at a crossroads: “Is it worth complicating the model if there is no direct evidence?” In his opinion, the debate over the nature of dark energy could go on for decades without a final verdict.
The researchers’ hopes are tied to new instruments: the ESA Euclid mission and DESI will continue to collect data on the distribution of galaxies and the influence of dark energy. If they find anomalies in gravitational interactions on large scales, it will be an argument in favor of quintessence.
So far, the discovery leaves more questions than answers. But that’s what inspires science, too. As Akrami observed: “the world is more complex than we imagined – and that’s beautiful!”
We have previously explained in detail about the discovery of dark matter and energy.
According to New Scientist
