Around 5 billion years after the Big Bang, observations show galaxies began moving apart faster than expected. This is attributed to dark energy, a mysterious force counteracting gravity. Its origin may relate to vacuum energy from the early universe. Understanding dark energy is key to predicting the universe’s ultimate fate. It remains one of the biggest mysteries in cosmology, connecting the Big Bang to modern cosmic evolution.
Dark energy matters because it dominates the universe’s current expansion rate.
It also challenges physicists to reconcile it with fundamental theories, bridging cosmology and quantum physics.
Dark energy is reshaping the universe billions of years after the Big Bang.
ESA & NASA [nasa.gov/esa.int]