Is dark energy changing?

2006

Ancient gamma-ray bursts suggest our Universe used to be different..

Contrary to all expectations, the mysterious dark energy that is pushing the Universe apart may be changing with time.

            


By observing distant, powerful bursts of gamma rays (
-rays), Brad Schaefer says he has preliminary evidence that the strength of dark energy is different today from when the Universe was very young. Schaefer, an astronomer at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, presented his results at an American Astronomical Society meeting in Washington DC.