dark energy

American  

[dahrk en-er-jee] / ˈdɑrk ˈɛn ər dʒi /

noun

1. a hypothetical form of energy whose negative pressure counteracts gravity and is assumed to be responsible for the universe expanding at an accelerating rate.

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dark energy Scientific  

1. A form of energy hypothesized to reside in the structure of space itself, responsible for the accelerating expansion of the universe. Dark energy theoretically counterbalances the kinetic energy of the universe's expansion, entailing that that the universe has no inherent curvature, as astronomical observations currently suggest. Dark energy appears to account for 73 percent of all the energy and matter in the universe.

2. See also big bang

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dark energy Cultural  

1. An as yet unknown and unidentified form of energy that pervades the universe and produces a force that counteracts the gravitational attraction between galaxies.

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Discover More

Dark energy is thought to be responsible for the accelerating universe.

Etymology

Origin of dark energy

First recorded in 1995–2000

Example Sentences

The force that pushes space apart has since been called dark energy.

From Scientific American

If this value were the true strength of dark energy, space would be ballooning much, much faster.

From Scientific American

According to theoretical predictions, dark energy accounts for about 68 percent of the total energy in space.

From Scientific American

Deepening research into the phenomena could help answer today’s grandest questions, such as what makes up the cores of neutron stars or how the behavior of dark energy could reveal the shape of the universe.

From New York Times

Even more remarkably, this energy seems to be responsible for the accelerated expansion of the universe attributed to dark energy— and hence, could explain what dark energy is.

From Salon