A team of scientists has proposed a new theory that could explain the mysterious acceleration of the universe’s expansion, known as dark energy. According to this concept, black holes could be tiny “bubbles” of dark energy, transforming matter into the mysterious force driving cosmic expansion.
The idea is based on recent data from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), which suggests that the strength of dark energy has changed over time. This contradicts our current understanding of the universe, the standard model of cosmology, and other theories. The team behind this suggestion, led by DESI researcher Steve Ahlen, proposes that black holes could be the key to explaining this phenomenon.
The theory, known as the “cosmologically coupled black hole (CCBH)” hypothesis, suggests that black holes are born from massive stars and convert their matter into dark energy. This would explain why the rate of cosmic expansion, known as the Hubble constant, is changing over time.
The CCBH hypothesis has several potential benefits, including resolving the mystery of neutrino masses. Currently, scientists have difficulty calculating the mass of these particles due to their small size and lack of detection. However, if black holes are responsible for converting matter into dark energy, it could provide a solution to this problem.
While this theory is still in its early stages, the team behind it is optimistic about its potential to explain several cosmic mysteries. As Ahlen noted, “This is the way physics is done. You come up with as many ideas as you can and you shoot them down as fast as you can.” The CCBH hypothesis is an example of this approach, and if it proves successful, it could revolutionize our understanding of the universe.
The team’s research was published in Physical Review Letters, and they are now looking forward to further analysis and scrutiny from the scientific community. As Gregory Tarlé, a DESI collaboration scientist, noted, “It’s intriguing at the very least.” While more data is needed, this theory has already generated excitement among scientists, who see it as a potential solution to some of the universe’s greatest mysteries.
Source: https://www.space.com/astronomy/black-holes-that-transform-matter-into-dark-energy-could-solve-cosmic-hiccups-mystery