Did Astronomers Just Solve The Mystery Of Dark Energy In The Cosmos?

Planetarium educator Talia Sepersky explains how two groundbreaking studies shed light on dark energy. If accurate, these discoveries could be some of the biggest in the history of cosmology. Dark energy is a mysterious force that affects the whole universe and is helping drive its expansion. It’s a major player in how the universe operates and we have no idea what it even is and where it comes from. Until now. Maybe. This recent study conducted by a team of 17 researchers across nine countries, led by the University of Hawai'i and including physicists from STFC RAL Space and Imperial College London, revealed the connection between black holes and dark energy. The study's results are detailed in two papers published in the journals “The Astrophysical Journal” and “The Astrophysical Journal Letters”. The team analyzed measurements from ancient and dormant galaxies and found that black holes appear to be growing at a rate that aligns with Einstein's theory of gravity. These findings suggest that black holes themselves could be responsible for generating dark energy!