Dark energy research suggests life could end with 'big crunch'

Dark energy, the mysterious force powering the expansion of the universe, appears to be weakening, according to a major survey.

- Hannah Devlin

If confirmed, the results would have profound implications for the laws of modern physics and for the fate of the universe. Its current expansion could even ultimately reverse into a "big crunch".

The survey was conducted by the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) team. "What we are seeing is deeply intriguing," said Alexie Leauthaud-Harnett, its co-spokesperson and professor at University of California Santa Cruz.

"It is exciting to think that we may be on the cusp of a major discovery about dark energy and the fundamental nature of our universe."

Dark energy was discovered in the late 90s when astronomers used distant supernova explosions to investigate changes in the rate of cosmic expansion over time.