When astronomers found that the universe is increasing at an accelerating charge, they theorized that some pressure have to be pushing issues farther aside and overcoming gravity, which must be slowing issues down. That pressure was advised to be dark energy, however nobody has ever found out from the place it comes.
However a group of 17 worldwide researchers led by the College of Hawaii has found the primary proof for the origin level of darkish power: Black holes.
Black holes purchase mass in two methods: accretion of gasoline and mergers with different black holes. However in finding out 9 billion years of black hole evolution in dormant big elliptical galaxies, the researchers found that the older black holes are a lot bigger than they need to be primarily based on these two strategies of progress. Which means there have to be one other method these black holes are buying mass. Researchers recommend the reply is darkish power within the type of vacuum power, “a form of power included in spacetime itself … [that] pushes the universe additional aside, accelerating the enlargement,” in accordance with a statement (opens in new tab).
Associated: Black holes: Everything you need to know
“If the speculation holds, then that is going to revolutionize the entire of cosmology, as a result of finally we have an answer for the origin of darkish power that is been perplexing cosmologists and theoretical physicists for greater than 20 years,” Dr. Chris Pearson of STFC RAL House, a co-author of a examine on the invention, stated in a press release.
The concept that black holes are a supply of darkish power is not new. In reality, it is a part of Einstein’s theory of general relativity. However that is the primary time astronomers have obtained observational proof to assist the speculation.
“We’re actually saying two issues without delay: That there is proof the standard black hole options do not be just right for you on a protracted, lengthy timescale, and we have now the primary proposed astrophysical supply for darkish power,” stated examine writer Duncan Farrah, College of Hawaii astronomer, within the assertion.
A paper on the group’s analysis was revealed in The Astrophysical Journal Letters (opens in new tab) on Wednesday (Feb 15).
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