The universe is still speeding up

A major new analysis challenges recent claims that the universe’s expansion is slowing, finding that the evidence for cosmic acceleration remains strong. The findings preserve the leading role of dark energy, while leaving scientists with the enduring mystery of what this strange cosmic force actually is. The universe is still speeding up, but nobody knows why.

Com An international team of astrophysicists says the universe is still expanding at an accelerating rate, rejecting recent claims that cosmic expansion may have begun to slow. The researchers challenged a study published last year claiming the growth of the universe is slowing. They argue that the standard interpretation remains intact: a mysterious force known as dark energy is continuing to drive the universe’s accelerating expansion.

The team includes two Nobel Laureates and scientists from institutions around the world. According to the researchers, the controversy sparked by the findings reported last November was caused by a misunderstanding in the analysis rather than evidence that scientists’ basic picture of the universe had suddenly broken down. The new paper was published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.