12 h. ago Could life end with a 'Big Crunch'? Scientists say mysterious energy that holds together the universe is WEAKENING

It's well known that the universe began in an explosion known as the Big Bang, but scientists now say that it might end with a Big Crunch.

Science

22 h. ago How will the universe end? Scientists narrow it down to two scenarios

Scientists are homing in on the nature of a mysterious force called dark energy which makes up nearly 70 per cent of the universe

Science

25 h. ago What a dark energy discovery means for the fate of the universe – podcast

Dark energy, the mysterious force powering the expansion of the universe, appears to be weakening over time, according to a major cosmological survey that has thrown the laws of modern physics into doubt. Ian Sample tells Madeleine Finlay how this new finding could shed light on the ultimate fate of the cosmos, and Saul Perlmutter, who won a Nobel prize for his work proving the universe is expanding, describes how the new development could upend assumptions about how this mysterious force operatesSupport the Guardian: theguardian.com/sciencepod Continue reading...

Politics

32 h. ago How will the universe end? A changing understanding of dark energy may provide a new answer

Scientists are homing in on the nature of a mysterious force called dark energy, and nothing short of the fate of the universe hangs in the balance

Science

32 h. ago Dark energy: mysterious cosmic force appears to be weakening, say scientists

Findings could open up possibility the universe will end in a reverse big bang or ‘big crunch’, say cosmologistsExplainer: Is dark energy destined to dominate the universe?Dark energy, the mysterious force powering the expansion of the universe, appears to be weakening, according to a survey that could “overthrow” scientists’ current understanding of the fate of the cosmos.If confirmed, the results from the dark energy spectroscopic instrument (Desi) team at the Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona would have profound implications for theories about the evolution of the universe, opening up the possibility that its current expansion could eventually go into reverse in a “big crunch”. Continue reading...

Science

32 h. ago Is dark energy destined to dominate the universe and lead to the ‘big crunch’?

New universes may emerge in due course, says scientist at Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument in ArizonaDark energy: mysterious cosmic force appears to be weakening, say scientistsSince the big bang, a cosmic battle has been under way between matter (both dark matter and ordinary) and dark energy.The gravitational force that draws massive objects such as galaxies towards each other works against the expansion of the universe. But astronomical observations show that the universe’s expansion has, oddly, been speeding up. This led scientists to conclude that dark energy, a mysterious force acting as a sort of anti-gravity, permeates the entirety of space. And dark energy appeared to be at a significant advantage in the cosmic tug of war. Continue reading...

Politics

35 h. ago European Space Agency releases new data that could help us understand the nature of the universe

Euclid space telescope is trying to understand dark energy and dark matter, which remain largely mysterious

Politics

43 h. ago Scientists hail ‘avalanche of discoveries’ from Euclid space telescope

Data from European Space Agency’s mission has allowed researchers to create detailed catalogue of 380,000 galaxiesAstronomers are predicting an “avalanche of discoveries” after the first major release of observations from a European space telescope built to study the mysterious dark matter and dark energy that comprise the bulk of the universe.The European Space Agency’s Euclid mission has captured images of 26m galaxies, covering 10bn years of cosmic history. They give researchers unprecedented insight into the forces that shape the cosmos and the galaxies it holds. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago What would really happen if the Gulf Stream collapsed? Scientists warn major global current is WEAKENING

Scientists at the Met Office warn that Earth's system of ocean currents is 'weakening' - with devastating consequences felt around the world.

Events

3 w. ago Total collapse of vital Atlantic currents unlikely this century, study finds

Climate scientists caution, however, that even weakened currents would cause profound harm to humanityVital Atlantic Ocean currents are unlikely to completely collapse this century, according to a study, but scientists say a severe weakening remains probable and would still have disastrous impacts on billions of people.The Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (Amoc) is a system of currents that plays a crucial role in the global climate. The climate crisis is weakening the complex system, but determining if and when it will collapse is difficult. Continue reading...

Politics