What awaits the Universe: the mystery of fading dark energy
A new study of nearly 3,000 Type Ia supernovae has shown that dark energy, which drives the accelerated expansion of the Universe, is not a constant but is weakening. This challenges the standard cosmological model and could lead to a revision of the future scenario of the cosmos—from a slowdown in expansion to a global contraction.
A major new study of cosmic explosions has challenged the fundamental foundations of modern astrophysics. An international team of scientists analyzed data from nearly 3,000 Type Ia supernovae—'standard candles' whose stable brightness allows precise measurement of cosmic distances. Comparing this data with information on the cosmic microwave background and the distribution of galaxies, the researchers detected a discrepancy: dark energy, which was thought to have remained unchanged since the Big Bang, is actually weakening. If the findings are confirmed, this will completely change the future scenario of the Universe. Instead of eternal accelerated expansion, gravity may once again take over, leading to a slowdown and then to a global contraction—a return to the state preceding the Big Bang. The paper was published on the preprint server arXiv.