Why is our universe accelerating in its expansion? If Einstein’s theory of general relativity is correct, then the dark energy that drives this expansion accounts for nearly 70% of the total energy in the universe. However, precise measurements of the history of this expansion may reveal that new dynamic forces are in play. The Dark Energy Survey has combined its four primary cosmological probes for the first time in order to constrain the properties of dark energy. These first combined constraints are competitive with previous experiments and will improve as more data is analyzed.
Read more in Fermilab Today here.
Researchers used the Blanco telescope in conducting the Dark Energy Survey. The Milky Way is on the left of the sky, with the Magellanic clouds in the center. Photo: Reidar Hahn