For decades, it was thought that a mysterious force called dark energy was causing the expansion of space to accelerate. However, a study published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Letters shatters this established theory.
The traditional Lambda-CDM model, which describes the evolution of the universe, is based on the assumption that the cosmos is expanding uniformly in all directions. The concept of dark energy was introduced to explain the acceleration of the expansion, but new observations show that this phenomenon can be explained by the non-uniformity of the kinetic energy of the expansion. Scientists hypothesized that gravity slows down the passage of time. In vast voids (voids), where the density of matter is low, time passes faster than in regions of high density, such as galaxies. Accordingly, space has more time to expand in these voids. This creates the illusion of an accelerated expansion of the universe without having to take dark energy into account.
The results of observations indicate that the universe is expanding not as fast as previously thought. The authors of the study note that the real cosmos is much more complex than the Friedman equation, which is the basis of modern cosmology, predicts.
If the new theory is confirmed, it could completely change our understanding of the evolution of the universe. The discovery could solve the mystery of dark energy, proving that this "force" simply does not exist. At the same time, if these conclusions are false, it will further sharpen the question about the nature of dark energy.
Scientists hope that in the coming years, new evidence will be obtained that will confirm or refute their conclusions. One thing is clear: we are only at the beginning of the path to uncovering the secrets of the universe.
