Scientists have finally solved the mystery of dark energy, a placeholder term for the unknown force driving the universe’s expansion. A new theory, called the “timescape model,” proposes that time itself is responsible for the observed acceleration of the universe’s expansion.
The timescape model takes into account the fact that time moves slower in strong gravitational fields, such as those found near Earth and other celestial objects. According to this theory, the spaces between galaxies are expanding faster than expected due to the difference in time dilation effects across different regions of space.
Researchers used observations of type Ia supernovae, which are caused by dying white dwarfs, to test the new model. They found that it provided better predictions for the data compared to existing theories, including dark energy. The findings suggest that dark energy may not be a fundamental force at all, but rather an illusion created by our perception of time.
The discovery has significant implications for our understanding of the universe and its expansion. It also raises questions about the nature of time and gravity. While more research is needed to confirm the model, scientists are optimistic that it could provide a solution to one of the universe’s biggest mysteries within the next decade.
The European Space Agency’s Euclid satellite is set to launch soon and will have the capability to distinguish between the uniform expansion of the Friedmann equation and the timescale alternative. With thousands of high-quality supernovae observations, scientists may finally be able to prove that this model is correct, solving the dark energy mystery once and for all.
Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-14214499/Dark-energy-mystery-finally-SOLVED.html