The Universe is in a constant state of expansion and it has been since literally the beginning of everything. However, now experts say that a mysterious, cosmic variable we don’t well understand could actually be slowing the whole process down.
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00:00 [Music]
00:03 The universe is in a constant state of expansion, and it has been since literally the beginning
00:08 of everything.
00:09 However, now experts say that a mysterious cosmic variable we don't well understand
00:13 could actually be slowing the whole process down.
00:16 Physicists from the University of Michigan say that dark energy might be at least part
00:20 of the reason.
00:21 In an interview with Michigan News, Min Nguyen, the study's lead author, had this to say,
00:25 "If gravity acts like an amplifier enhancing matter perturbations to grow into large-scale
00:29 structure, then dark energy acts like an attenuator, dampening these perturbations and slowing
00:35 the growth of structure."
00:36 The universe is currently expanding at a theorized rate of 74 kilometers per second per megaparsec,
00:42 a measurement you might need an astrophysics degree to properly understand.
00:45 But these physicists are suggesting that it could be expanding faster if dark energy wasn't
00:50 acting on it.
00:51 However, the team also say that by better understanding how the cosmic structure grows
00:55 and comes together, we may be able to divine more about the nature of gravity and dark
00:59 energy and perhaps finally solve the dark energy conundrum.
01:03 [music]