Dark Energy, it would seem, Has Been Confirmed

From the IO9 blog comes information that researchers have been able to confirm the existence of Dark Energy. This proof is in the form of a study called the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey, or BOSS. This "survey" examined 300+ thousand galaxies with an average age/distance of six billion years. This time in the age of the universe is a telling time. The universe reach a point where matter density/gravity could no longer slow, let alone reverse, the outward expansion. At this point the repulsive forces of dark energy came into play and began speeding up the expansion.

But there is still a problem. We can see the effects, but not what is causing said effect. It is hoped that by studying the 300 plus thousand galaxies, it is hoped that scientists will be able to determine more and hopefully what this mysterious force really is.

One of the effects that the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey has been able to
observe some of the effects of and there by hinting that they are indeed on the right track is the Baryon Oscillation for which the study is named for. The Baryon Oscillation were massive oscillations, sound waves if you like, that took place very shortly after the big bang (30 thousand years or so) These sound waves ultimately could have been responsible for the overall make up of the Universe billions of years ago.

Check out the IO9 article here
BBC News online
Wiki on Baryon Oscillation Survey