Dark energy pushes galaxies apart from "summary" of The Fabric of the Cosmos by Brian Greene
Dark energy is a mysterious force that appears to be driving the accelerated expansion of the universe. It is not like any form of energy that we are familiar with, such as solar, electric, or kinetic energy. Instead, dark energy is a property of space itself, filling the vacuum of space with a constant energy density. This energy exerts a negative pressure that drives the universe to expand at an ever-increasing rate. The presence of dark energy can be inferred from observations of distant supernovae, which revealed that the universe is expanding at an accelerating pace. This discovery was unexpected, as it was previously believed that the expansion of the universe should be slowing down due to the gravitational attraction of matter. However, dark energy's repulsive force overwhelms the pull of gravity on cosmic scales, causing galaxies to move away from each other at an increasing rate. The effect of dark energy can be likened to a cosmic anti-gravity, counteracting the attractive force of matter. As galaxies move further apart, the space between them expands, stretching the fabric of the cosmos itself. This expansion is not due to galaxies moving through space, but rather to the space between galaxies growing larger. The more space there is, the more dark energy there is, driving the acceleration of the universe's expansion. While the exact nature of dark energy remains a mystery, its presence is undeniable based on observational evidence. It constitutes about 70% of the energy content of the universe, with dark matter making up about 25%, leaving only a small fraction for ordinary matter. Understanding the role of dark energy in the cosmos is crucial for unraveling the ultimate fate of the universe, as its influence on the expansion of space will determine how the universe evolves over time.
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