Dark Energy: The Mystery Accelerating the Universe’s Expansion

  1. Dark energy makes up about 68% of the universe, driving its accelerated expansion.
  2. Unlike matter, dark energy repels gravity, pushing galaxies apart faster over time.
  3. Its discovery in 1998 earned the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics for revealing cosmic acceleration.
  4. Dark energy’s nature remains unknown, making it one of the biggest mysteries in physics.
  5. The “cosmological constant” is one leading explanation, representing energy inherent to space itself.
  6. Observations of distant supernovae provide key evidence for dark energy’s influence.
  7. Dark energy affects the fate of the universe, potentially leading to a “Big Freeze” or other scenarios.
  8. Its effects are subtle locally but dominate the universe on the largest cosmic scales.
  9. Studying dark energy helps scientists understand the universe’s expansion history and structure.
  10. Unlocking dark energy could revolutionize physics, offering insights into space, time, and the cosmos itself.