For decades, scientists have puzzled over dark energy, the mysterious force that makes up nearly 70% of the Universe and drives its accelerating expansion.
Now, a study suggests that black holes – once thought to be cosmic dead ends – may actually be the engines producing elusive dark energy.
Using cutting-edge data from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), researchers propose that when stars collapse into black holes, matter could be transformed into dark energy, rewriting our understanding of how the Universe evolves.
The power of DESI’s ‘5,000 eyes’
DESI, based at Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona on land stewarded by the Tohono O’odham Nation, is no ordinary telescope.
Equipped with 5,000 robotic eyes, the instrument can simultaneously capture light from thousands of galaxies, switching targets every 15 minutes.
Since beginning operations, DESI has already mapped more than 40 million galaxies, assembling the most detailed 3D map of the cosmos ever attempted.
The project is a massive international collaboration of over 900 scientists across 70 institutions, led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory with support from the U.S. Department of Energy.
Researchers at Durham University and collaborators have now combined DESI’s data with observations of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) to explore the nature of dark energy.
Black holes as cosmic power plants
The team’s bold model proposes that when stars collapse into black holes, the extreme conditions trigger a transformation of matter into dark energy.
This process is thought to evolve naturally alongside the cosmic star formation rate, offering a mechanism that aligns with both the early and modern Universe.
If confirmed, this theory would mean black holes are not only consumers of matter but also engines fuelling the Universe’s expansion.
It marks a radical departure from the long-standing assumption that dark energy has been constant over time.
Neutrinos and a cosmic mismatch
Beyond dark energy, the study also tackles another cosmic enigma: the mass of neutrinos.
These fundamental particles are the second most abundant in the Universe, yet their exact masses remain elusive.
Current models that assume constant dark energy create a troubling mismatch – suggesting neutrinos would have negative mass, which contradicts established physics.
By allowing dark energy to evolve, the new model resolves this paradox. Neutrino masses once again fit within expected values, strengthening the case for a dynamic role of dark energy in shaping the cosmos.
Durham’s key role in DESI
Durham University has been central to DESI’s mission. Its scientists designed the instrument’s fibre-optic system, enabling DESI to capture the light of galaxies, quasars, and stars with unprecedented precision.
The team also developed advanced supercomputer simulations of the Universe to compare DESI’s real-world data with theoretical models.
According to Durham researchers, the findings could revolutionise cosmology. The study shows how fresh data can challenge the so-called standard model of the Universe, opening the door to alternative theories that may one day become the new scientific consensus.
A turning point in cosmology
The work demonstrates how black holes could hold the key to dark energy. If the theory stands up to further testing, it could solve multiple long-standing puzzles, from the accelerating expansion of the Universe to the role of neutrinos in the cosmic matter balance.
For now, the scientific community is cautious but excited. Future DESI observations and next-generation instruments will put the model to the test.
Whether it proves correct or not, the research highlights the power of collaboration, technology, and the relentless pursuit of answers to the Universe’s greatest mysteries.