Dark energy is one of the so far unsolved mysteries of modern cosmology. Launching the Britannica page on Thursday (21/11/2024), the name dark energy was given by physicists to refer to the force that drives the mysterious acceleration of the expansion or expansion of the universe.
It is believed that dark energy fills all space and contributes to the faster expansion of the universe. This theory arose from the idea that the universe was not only expanding, but the speed of its expansion was increasing.
Although dark energy makes up three quarters of the mass energy of the cosmos. But the fundamental nature of this energy was unknown to physicists for decades.
Because dark energy itself is not related to dark matter. This means that scientists still do not understand what dark energy is.
The discovery of dark energy began in the late 1990s, when two teams of astronomers observed Type Ia supernovae. This supernova is used as a cosmic distance marker because of its brightness.
Observations show that supernovae far away appear fainter than previously thought. This phenomenon indicates that global expansion is accelerating, not slowing down as expected.
This discovery is the first indication of the existence of dark energy. Dark energy is thought to affect the structure of the universe through its property of causing space to expand faster.
The standard cosmological model, known as Lambda Cold Dark Matter (ΛCDM), proposes that dark energy acts as a stable form of energy evenly distributed throughout the universe. The reverse nature of gravity causes a decrease in the force of attraction between galaxies, thus accelerating the expansion of the universe.
(Tiffany)
2024-11-21 20:00:00
#Scientists #reconfirm #Einsteins #theory #relativity #results
**According to the interview, why are Type Ia supernovae considered “standard candles” by astronomers, and how did their observation contribute to the discovery of dark energy?**
## Interview: Unraveling the Enigma of Dark Energy
**Host:** Welcome back to World Today News. Today, we’re diving into one of the cosmos’ biggest mysteries: dark energy. I’m joined by Dr. Amelia Santos, a renowned astrophysicist specializing in dark energy research, and Professor David Chen, a leading expert in theoretical cosmology. Welcome, both!
**Dr. Santos:** Thank you for having me.
**Professor Chen:** A pleasure to be here.
**Host:** To start, Dr.Santos, can you elaborate on what exactly dark energy is and why it is so significant in our understanding of the universe?
**Dr. Santos:** Certainly. Dark energy is a hypothetical form of energy that permeates all of space and is believed to be responsible for the accelerating expansion of the universe. Imagine a loaf of raisin bread rising. As it bakes, the raisins move apart, but they do so at an increasingly faster rate. Similarly, galaxies are moving away from each other faster and faster, and dark energy is thought to be the driving force behind this acceleration.
**Host:** Professor Chen, the article mentions that dark energy makes up a staggering three quarters of the cosmos’ mass-energy content. How did scientists arrive at this astounding figure?
**Professor Chen:** That’s right. Determining the precise composition of the universe is a complex puzzle. By observing distant supernovae and mapping the cosmic microwave background radiation, scientists have been able to build cosmological models that best fit the observed data. These models strongly suggest that dark energy constitutes the dominant component of the universe.
***Break for Commercial***
**Host:** Dr. Santos, the article highlights the discovery of dark energy stemming from observations of Type Ia supernovae. Can you explain how these celestial objects helped reveal the existence of this enigmatic force?
**Dr. Santos:** Type Ia supernovae are incredibly useful tools for astronomers. They explode with a consistent brightness, making them reliable “standard candles” to measure cosmic distances. When we observed these supernovae in distant galaxies, we found they were fainter than expected. This implied that they were further away than anticipated, meaning the universe was expanding faster than previously thought – a telltale sign of dark energy’s influence.
**Host:** Professor Chen, the standard cosmological model, LambdaCDM, suggests that dark energy is a stable form of energy evenly distributed throughout space. However, this model also faces certain challenges. Could you elaborate on some of these?
**Professor Chen:** While the LambdaCDM model successfully explains a wide range of observations, it doesn’t address the fundamental nature of dark energy. We still don’t know what it is made of, why its energy density seems constant despite the expansion of the universe, or whether it interacts with other forces.
Ultimately, these are profound mysteries that continue to drive dark energy research.
**Host:** Indeed. Dr. Santos, looking forward, what are some of the exciting avenues of research that scientists are pursuing in their quest to understand dark energy?
**Dr. Santos:** There are many ongoing and planned missions dedicated to unraveling the dark energy enigma. Large-scale surveys like the Dark Energy Survey and the Euclid mission are meticulously mapping the distribution of galaxies and galaxy clusters, while projects like the Vera C. Rubin Observatory are poised to provide unprecedentedly precise measurements of distant supernovae. These efforts, combined with innovative theoretical work, may finally shed light on the nature of this mysterious force.
**Host:** This has been a fascinating discussion. Thank you both, Dr. Santos and Professor Chen, for sharing your expert insights into the captivating world of dark energy.
