Scientists Think Dark Energy Might Be Just an Illusion

This would make the universe both more and less mysterious.

By Chelsea Gohd

Updated

physics dark energy dark matter universe expansion
Dark matter map. Computer model of dark matter (red) distribution in the universe, the first time the invisible dark matter between visible objects has been mapped. Its position has been inferred from the effect its gravitational pull has on the light from more distant galaxies (blue), which are seen to be slightly elongated parallel to the dark matter filaments. The mass of the observable universe is only around a tenth of that calculated from observations, with dark matter thought to constitute the missing mass. This work was done by Yannick Mellier and his team from the Paris Astro- physics Institute, France, using the Canada- France-Hawaii Telescope on Mauna Kea, Hawaii, USA. Image: Yannick Mellier/IAP/Science Photo Library/Getty

Dark Energy: Captivating and Confusing

Dark energy and matter, two hot-button subjects of physics that have captivated and stumped enthusiasts and experts alike. Since its discovery in 1998, dark energy has been a subject of extensive study and confusion. Theoretically comprising approximately 68% of the known universe, this mysterious form of energy is said to be accelerating the expansion of the Universe. However, despite these past conclusions, new simulations suggest that dark energy might not actually exist at all.

Physicists hailing from Loránd University in Hungary and the Institute for Astronomy at the University of Hawaii mathematically modeled the effect of gravity on “dark matter” (they used millions of particles to represent dark matter). This model showed how matter would have gathered and resembled large scale galaxy structures (or “bubbles” of space and their surrounding galaxies) in the early Universe. And, much like the actual Universe, their model expanded. However, averaging out how these different “bubbles” expanded, the researchers found an overall acceleration.

What Is the Universe Made Of?

Now, this might not seem like a huge deal, but when you think about this study in terms of dark energy, what they really found was an explanation for how the formation of large and complex structures in the universe affects its expansion. And, according to László Dobos from Eötvös Loránd University, “These issues were previously swept under the rug but taking them into account can explain the acceleration without the need for dark energy.”

Their calculations showed that dark energy could have really just been a tool to explain the expansion of the Universe. Dark energy could really just be an illusion of energy that comes from changing structures in the Universe. So…what does this mean? Well, for starters it means that there is both more and less mystery in our Universe. We might be a step closer to better understanding the expansion of the Universe, but this new possibility opens up a lot of new doors and introduces a lot of new questions.