Researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi have found observational evidence supporting a long-theorized model that could help explain two of physics’ biggest mysteries: the accelerating growth of the universe and neutrino mass. The study, published in Physical Review Letters, used data from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) to test whether dark energy emanating from black holes can cause the universe’s expansion.
The cosmologically coupled black hole hypothesis proposes that dead star matter is converted into dark energy, a process studied for over half a century. The researchers, including University of Hawaiʻi associate professor Duncan Farrah, found that this theory could help solve two major puzzles: the origin of dark energy and the mass of neutrinos.
According to Farrah, if just a small amount of ordinary matter is converted into dark energy over time, it can go a long way in explaining both phenomena. The CCBH model offers a solution to the discrepancy between DESI’s measurements and other experiments, allowing for a match in neutrino mass and resolving the tension in cosmology.
The study also suggests that dark energy was not set at the beginning of time but built up slowly as stars formed and died. This work demonstrates the power of creative thinking combined with advanced telescopes and global cooperation in understanding the universe’s mysteries.
Source: https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2025/08/21/dark-energy-from-dead-stars