Dark energy makes up roughly 70% of the universe, yet we know nothing about it.
Around 25% of the universe is the equally mysterious dark matter, leaving just 5% for everything that we can see and touch—matter made up of atoms.
Dark energy is the placeholder name scientists have given to the unknown force causing the universe to expand faster and faster over time.
When Albert Einstein introduced his theory of general relativity in 1915, it changed the way we viewed the universe. His gravitational model showed how Newtonian gravity, which had dominated astronomy and physics for more than three centuries, was merely an approximation of a more subtle and elegant model.
Einstein showed us that gravity is not a mere force but is rather the foundation of cosmic structure. Gravity, Einstein said, defined the structure of space and time itself.
But in the past century, we have learned far more about the cosmos than even Einstein could have imagined. Some of our observations, such as gravitational lensing clearly confirm general relativity, but others seem to poke holes in the model. The rotational motion of galaxies doesn’t match the predictions of gravity alone, leading astronomers to introduce dark matter.
Physicists are tapping into the strange world of quantum sensors to revolutionize particle detection in the next generation of high-energy experiments.
These new superconducting detectors not only offer sharper spatial resolution but can also track events in time—essential for decoding chaotic particle collisions. By harnessing cutting-edge quantum technologies originally developed for astronomy and networking, researchers are making huge strides toward identifying previously undetectable particles, including potential components of dark matter.
Unlocking the universe with particle colliders.
The detection of dark matter, an elusive form of matter believed to account for most of the universe’s mass, remains a long-standing goal within the physics research community. As this type of matter can only emit, reflect or absorb light very weakly, it cannot be observed using conventional telescopes and experimental methods.
Physicists have thus been trying to predict what it may consist of and proposing alternative approaches that could enable its detection. Dark compact objects are a class of dense and invisible structures that could be made up of dark matter, but that have never been directly observed so far.
Researchers at Queen’s University and the Arthur B. McDonald Canadian Astroparticle Physics Research Institute recently introduced a new possible method for detecting dark compact objects by probing their interactions with photons (i.e., light particles). Their newly proposed approach, outlined in a paper published in Physical Review Letters, is based on the idea that as dark compact objects pass between the Earth and a distant star, they will dim the light emitted by this star.
In a dramatic leap for astrophysics, Chinese researchers have recreated a key cosmic process in the lab: the acceleration of ions by powerful collisionless shocks.
By using intense lasers to simulate space-like conditions, they captured high-speed ion beams and confirmed the decades-old theory that shock drift acceleration, not shock surfing, is the main driver behind these energy gains. This discovery connects lab physics with deep-space phenomena like cosmic rays and supernova remnants, paving the way for breakthroughs in both fusion energy and space science.
Breakthrough in particle acceleration observed in lab.
This book dives into the holy grail of modern physics: the union of quantum mechanics and general relativity. It’s a front-row seat to the world’s brightest minds (like Hawking, Witten, and Maldacena) debating what reality is really made of. Not casual reading—this is heavyweight intellectual sparring.
☼ Key Takeaways:
✅ Spacetime Is Not Continuous: It might be granular at the quantum level—think “atoms of space.”
✅ Unifying Physics: String theory, loop quantum gravity, holography—each gets a say.
✅ High-Level Debates: This is like eavesdropping on the Avengers of physics trying to fix the universe.
✅ Concepts Over Calculations: Even without equations, the philosophical depth will bend your brain.
✅ Reality Is Weirder Than Fiction: Quantum foam, time emergence, multiverse models—all explored.
This isn’t a how-to; it’s a “what-is-it?” If you’re obsessed with the ultimate structure of reality, this is your fix.
☼ Thanks for watching! If the idea of spacetime being pixelated excites you, drop a comment below and subscribe for more mind-bending content.