Space & Astronomy

Dark energy may be devouring dark matter

By T.K. Randall
November 3, 2014 ·  16 comments

Is our universe becoming emptier ? Image Credit: NASA / Hubble Dark matter, the substance thought to account for the majority of the matter in the universe, might actually be disappearing according to a new study.

Physicists now believe that dark energy, the theoretical energy thought to be responsible for the continued acceleration of the expansion of the universe, is swallowing up dark matter and producing an empty void of nothingness in its wake."If the dark energy is growing and dark matter is evaporating we will end up with a big, empty, boring Universe with almost nothing in it," said Professor David Wands.

The researchers had saught to understand why the growth of cosmic structures such as galaxies and galaxy clusters was slower than expected and now believe that this energy transfer between dark matter and dark energy is likely to be responsible.

"Dark matter provides a framework for structures to grow in the Universe," said Professor Wands. "The galaxies we see are built on that scaffolding and what we are seeing here, in these findings, suggests that dark matter is evaporating, slowing that growth of structure."

Source: Russia Today | Comments (16)

Tags: Dark Energy, Dark Matter, Universe