The universe continues to expand, but scientists have just discovered an unexpected phenomenon. Matter seems to be having more and more difficulty grouping together to form structures like galaxy clusters. The cause: a mysterious interaction between dark energy and as yet unknown physics, which could revolutionize our understanding of the cosmos.
The universe is stretching under the effect of a force that is still difficult to explain: dark energy. This invisible phenomenon, which makes up about 70% of it, acts as a kind of "antigravity" on a cosmic scale. Until now, it was thought to be constant over time. But new observations show that the formation of giant structures in space is slowing down more than expected. This discovery suggests that another unknown element could help this energy to act.
This conclusion comes from data from the BOSS program, which maps galaxies and quasars to better understand the distant universe. By analyzing the distribution of large structures such as galaxy clusters, researchers found that there are fewer of them than expected. This slowdown does not appear to be caused solely by dark energy. This suggests that another force or form of matter could be interfering with gravity to prevent matter from gathering together.
Dark energy alone is not enough to Explain the slowdown in matter formation
The idea that dark energy could vary over time is not new. Recent results from the DESI project have already shown discrepancies with the standard cosmological model (ΛCDM). This assumes that it is constant. However, the data seem to indicate that it could evolve, which calls into question the current foundations of cosmology. By comparing the observations, the researchers came across an even greater anomaly.
According to them, this decline in the formation of structures began at the very moment when Dark energy began to dominate the universe about 5 billion years ago. But that's not enough to explain the magnitude of the phenomenon. For now, no definitive answer has emerged. The mystery remains, and only the arrival of new data will perhaps allow us to lift the veil on this unknown physics that shapes the cosmos without us yet understanding the rules.
Source: Physical Review Letters
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