Universe to Man: “Made Ya Look!”

Man to universe: “That sucks for you!”

Two physicists suggest that we may have brought the universe closer to its death by merely observing dark energy.

“Incredible as it seems, our detection of the dark energy may have reduced the life-expectancy of the universe,” says Laurence Krauss of Case Western Reserve University. Dark energy is a mystery to scientists; we know how much there is and some of its properties. About 70% of the universe is made of dark energy, with dark matter making up about 20%; normal matter adds up to only about 5%.

“Dark energy” is the consequence of one of Einstein’s predictions about space, that “empty space” can possess its own energy. This form of energy could cause the universe to expand faster as time goes on, as it appears to be doing.