Dark Energy's Grip on Universe's Expansion May Be Weakening: DESI Data Hints at Cosmic Shift

New findings from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) project, based at Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona, suggest that dark energy, the force driving the universe's accelerated expansion, may be weakening over time. This challenges the long-held assumption that dark energy is a constant force. The analysis, presented at the American Physical Society's Global Physics Summit, is based on three years of observations of nearly 15 million galaxies and quasars. DESI's data, combined with other astrophysical measurements, indicates that dark energy's impact may have peaked when the universe was about 70% of its current age and has since decreased by approximately 10%. If this trend continues and dark energy becomes negative, the universe could potentially face a "big crunch" scenario, reversing its expansion. "What we're finding is that, yes, there is something pushing galaxies away from each other, but it is not constant. It is declining," stated Prof Carlos Frenk from the University of Durham and DesI collaborator. While the nature of dark energy remains a mystery, these findings open new avenues for research and could reshape our understanding of the universe's future.