New method of detecting dark energy discovered

[Dreaming Of Pandora]

Analysing the sublte effects dark energy has on gravitationally bent light [photo below], allows cosmologists to probe the nature of dark energy on huge distances and timescales to learn of its behaviour in the Universe.



This is considered a step towards solving the Universe's (second) biggest mystery; how it will end. Knowing the nature of dark energy is knowing the fate of the Universe; Big Rip or Big Chill; both are still possible.

[Human No More]

Nice, interesting way to do it I think, predicting the dark energy based on gravity.

[Raptor]

Hmmm, I thought gravitational lensing occurs from the presence of black holes or quasars. I'm not sure if dark matter is that dense.

[Dreaming Of Pandora]

Gravitational lensing occurs in galaxy clusters with mass many times greater than the largest black holes or quasars. The largest black holes have a mass of around 20 million stars. Each galaxy in Abell 1689 has at least 100 million stars in it so it's gravity as a whole is much much greater than that of a black hole.

The majority of this gravity comes from the dark matter halo enveloping the cluster which is strong enough to noticeable bend the light of objects behind the cluster.

[Advent]

Originally Posted by Dreaming Of Pandora

Analysing the sublte effects dark energy has on gravitationally bent light [photo below], allows cosmologists to probe the nature of dark energy on huge distances and timescales to learn of its behaviour in the Universe.



This is considered a step towards solving the Universe's (second) biggest mystery; how it will end. Knowing the nature of dark energy is knowing the fate of the Universe; Big Rip or Big Chill; both are still possible.

Reminds you of how awesome space is.

Also reminds you how good our singers are.