http://deoxy.org/img/sombrerogalaxy.jpg|right22 ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ~~~Imported from [Wikipedia:Dark_energy Wikipedia] on 2009-03-13~~~ '''In physical Videx:cosmology & Videx:astronomy dark energy is a hypothetical form of Videx:energy that permeates all of Videx:space and tends to increase the rate of Videx:expansion of the Videx:universe.''' Dark energy is the most popular way to explain recent observations that the universe appears to be expanding at an accelerating rate. In the standard Videx:model of cosmology, dark energy currently accounts for 74% of the total [Videx:mass mass]-energy of the universe. The exact Videx:nature of this dark energy is a Videx:matter of speculation. It is known to be very homogeneous, not very dense and is not known to interact through any of the fundamental Videx:forces other than Videx:gravity. Since it is not very dense—roughly 10^−29^ grams per cubic centimeter—it is hard to imagine experiments to detect it in the laboratory. '''Dark energy can only have such a profound impact on the universe, making up 74% of all energy, because it uniformly fills otherwise Videx:empty space.''' #MAGIC Videx q="dark energy" #MAGIC SubpageIndex id=Physics/