Universe expansion may Be Slowing, Challenging Dark Energy Theory, New Study Finds
LONDON – A new analysis of distant supernovae suggests the universe’s expansion may be slowing down, rather than accelerating as previously believed, potentially upending current cosmological models centered around the mysterious force known as dark energy. The research, published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, proposes an alternative clarification for observed dimness in distant supernovae, attributing it too variations in the properties of stars in the early universe.
For decades, astronomers have relied on Type 1a supernovae as “standard candles” - objects with a known intrinsic brightness – to measure cosmic distances and the rate of the universe’s expansion. Observations of these supernovae in the late 1990s led to the groundbreaking discovery that the expansion wasn’t slowing due to gravity, but was actually accelerating, a phenomenon attributed to dark energy.
Though, the new study estimates the ages of 300 host galaxies and concludes that early stars produced, on average, fainter supernovae than previously assumed. Correcting for this “systematic bias” still indicates an expanding universe, but one where the expansion is decelerating and dark energy is weakening.
If this trend continues, and dark energy becomes negative, the universe coudl theoretically end in a “big crunch,” a reversal of the big Bang.
“It’s definitely interesting. It’s very provocative. It may well be wrong,” said Professor Carlos Frenk, a cosmologist at the University of Durham, who was not involved in the research. “it’s not something that you can dismiss. They’ve put out a paper with tantalising results with very profound conclusions.”
The findings represent a significant challenge to the prevailing understanding of dark energy, which makes up approximately 68% of the universe and remains one of the biggest mysteries in modern cosmology. Further research will be needed to confirm these results and determine the ultimate fate of the universe.
