The Universe's Invisible Hand

Scientific American by Christopher J. Conselice | Jan. 19, 2007 (Special Report)

Dark energy does more than hurry along the expansion of the universe. It also has a stranglehold on the shape and spacing of galaxies

Scientists are just starting the long process of figuring out what dark energy is and what its implications are. One realization has already sunk in: although dark energy betrayed its existence through its effect on the universe as a whole, it may also shape the evolution of the universe's inhabitants--stars, galaxies, galaxy clusters. Astronomers may have been staring at its handiwork for decades without realizing it. Full Story »

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4.3

by Kaizar Campwala - Jan. 20, 2007

Very well written piece that explains the hypothesized effects of dark energy on our universe. Does require a requisite level of knowledge about cosmology and physics.

Kaizar posted this story.

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4.0

by Michael Unverferth - Jan. 21, 2007

Easy reading, and like many S-A articles it puts a complex scientific topic in terms a layperson can understand. The last paragraph is rather silly though, and does leave a slightly negative impression.

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5.0

by Bonnie Britt - Jan. 19, 2007

One reviewer claims dark energy is not defined. It is defined in a sidebar. In three more sidebars, its implications are examined in three intriguing graphics.

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4.0

by Dale Penn - Jan. 19, 2007

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4.9

by Henry Wong - Jan. 24, 2007

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3.0

by David Patterson - Jan. 20, 2007

So it's a race between Dark energy and Global Warming to see which ends life as we know it. An Ether called Dark energy is not new science. Put enough maybes, Apparentlys and could be's together and viola!!! Dr. Science makes science fiction seem apparently real. I mean it could be. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed this article very much.

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