dark energy

noun

|Updated on: 28 Jun 2018

Definition of dark energy

: a hypothetical form of energy that produces a force that opposes gravity and is thought to be the cause of the accelerating expansion of the universe

Recent Examples of dark energy from the Web

Astronomers have also studied the cosmic microwave background — the oldest light in the universe, which permeates the entire sky — and found roughly the same proportions of normal matter, dark matter and dark energy.

— amina khan, latimes.com, "After years of searching, scientists can finally account for all the normal matter in the universe," 20 June 2018
When, in 2011, the Nobel Prize in physics was awarded to three men for the discovery of dark energy from observations of distant supernovae, based on research conducted in the late 1990’s, Rubin’s Nobel seemed imminent.

— brian keating, WIRED, "There's Nothing Noble about Science’s Nobel Prize Gender Gap," 27 May 2018
From the start Moll is vibrating with so much dark energy if feels like the slightest rip will tear her wide and send her demons screaming from the void.

— barbara vandenburgh, azcentral, "Complex ‘Beast’ offers deliciously dark romance," 17 May 2018
Such work has demonstrated the universe’s expansion is accelerating—an advance that netted the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics—and has helped validate the existence of dark energy.

— shannon hall, Scientific American, "The Milky Way's Speediest Stars Could Solve a 50-Year-Old Mystery," 9 May 2018
All attempts to directly detect dark matter and dark energy have failed, however.

— katia moskvitch, WIRED, "Troubled Times for Alternatives to Einstein’s Theory of Gravity," 6 May 2018
The final season begins seven years after the core members of the Mikaelson family each absorb a quarter of the Hollow’s dark energy and flee New Orleans.

— mary cadden, USA TODAY, "Week in entertainment: Sting & Shaggy's '44/876', Amy Schumer's 'I Feel Pretty'," 14 Apr. 2018
Also known as Shadow Woman, Sepulchre has the ability to manipulate dark energy and merge into the shadows. Kinda like Olivia Pope, no?

— simedar jackson, Marie Claire, "We Cast Your Favorite Actresses as Superheroes," 9 June 2015
The Webb will search out the first stars and galaxies to have formed in the universe, but is not designed for dark energy.

— dennis overbye, New York Times, "Astronomers’ Dark Energy Hopes Fade to Gray," 19 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dark energy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.