Dark energy has long been seen as the invisible force behind our Universe’s accelerating expansion. But a new study suggests that the Universe might be expanding in a “lumpy” manner, which could challenge the role of dark energy.
For almost a century, scientists have assumed that the cosmos spreads out uniformly in every direction, with dark energy speeding up that expansion. However, researchers have been questioning this assumption, particularly after discovering inconsistencies between early and recent observations.
Professor David Wiltshire’s team analyzed supernova light curves to find that the Universe may be more uneven than previously thought. Their approach focuses on how time passes differently in various gravitational conditions rather than relying on dark energy.
The new study supports the timescape model, which suggests that local physics can vary depending on mass distribution. This means that a clock in a sparse region of space might tick faster or slower than one inside a galaxy with more gravitational pull.
The team’s findings challenge the traditional view of cosmic expansion and suggest that dark energy may not be needed to explain the observed acceleration. If the timescape approach holds up under further scrutiny, it could lead to a rethinking of how we average cosmic expansion and potentially resolve the Hubble tension.
Upcoming projects like the Euclid satellite and Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will provide more comprehensive observations of supernovae, which could help confirm or refute the timescape model. If successful, this approach could bring clarity to the mysterious nature of dark energy and expand our understanding of the Universe’s growth.
Source: https://www.earth.com/news/timescape-dark-energy-doesnt-exist-causing-lumpy-universe-expansion-cmbr