New findings from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) suggest that dark energy, which makes up about 70% of the universe's total energy, may not be a constant force as previously thought. A collaboration of over 900 researchers analyzed three years of data from DESI, which included measurements of approximately 15 million galaxies and quasars.
The data indicates that dark energy, traditionally regarded as a 'cosmological constant,' might be weakening over time. Located at the Kitt Peak National Observatory, DESI is mapping the universe in 3D to understand how dark energy has influenced its evolution over the past 11 billion years.
If this trend continues, dark energy could lose its dominance in the universe, potentially causing the expansion of the universe to slow down, halt, or even reverse. These results could necessitate revisions to the standard model of how the universe functions.