In “Dark energy does speed up universe’s expansion” (Australian Broadcasting Corporation, May 19, 2011), we learn:
Dark energy is real and it is causing spacetime and the universe to expand at an increasing speed, a new study says.The paper to be published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, provides the first independent confirmation of both the existence of dark energy and its rate of expansion. It has been put together by a team of 26 scientists including Chris Blake from Melbourne’s Swinburne University.
It turns out that this is only “further confirmation” of a “mystery”:
“Although the exact physics required to explain dark energy still remains a mystery, confirming it exists is a significant step in understanding the origin, evolution and fate of the universe.”
And, hold on:
Alternate theory
According to NASA, the new findings contradict an alternate theory that gravity, not dark energy, is the force pushing space apart. The alternate theory says Albert Einstein’s concept of gravity is wrong, and gravity becomes repulsive instead of attractive when acting at great distances.
“exact physics required”: Some think that the idea behind physics is exactness. That is, when you have the exactness, you have the physics, otherwise, just a theory. Thoughts?