Dark energy: mysterious cosmic force appears to be weakening, say scientists

A new survey from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) team suggests that dark energy, the mysterious force driving the expansion of the universe, may be weakening. This finding challenges the current understanding of the universe's fate.

Dark energy was discovered in the late 1990s and is thought to be responsible for the accelerating expansion of the universe. However, the latest data from DESI suggests that dark energy may have reached its peak strength about 11 billion years ago and has been declining ever since.

If confirmed, this finding could have profound implications for our understanding of the universe's evolution. It could also suggest that the universe's expansion may eventually reverse, leading to a "big crunch" scenario.

The DESI team used data from 15 million galaxies to create a detailed 3D map of the universe. While the results are intriguing, they do not yet meet the statistical certainty required to claim a discovery.

The finding has sparked excitement among scientists, with some hailing it as a potential "overthrow" of the current paradigm. However, others remain cautious, emphasizing that more data is needed to confirm the result.