Lead author Kevin Croker notes that if black holes indeed contain dark energy, they could significantly contribute to the universe's accelerating growth.

A new study published in the Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics provides compelling evidence that black holes could be a source of dark energy, utilizing data from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI).

DESI, equipped with 5,000 robotic eyes on the Mayall telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory, collects precise data on the universe's expansion over billions of years.

Initial findings from DESI indicate a temporal increase in dark energy density, which aligns with the historical rise in the quantity and mass of black holes.

Duncan Farrah, a co-author of the study, emphasizes the correlation between the formation of new black holes and the increase of dark energy, supporting the hypothesis that black holes may serve as dark energy sources.

Gregory Tarlé, a professor at the University of Michigan, suggests that during the gravitational collapse of massive stars, their matter may transform back into dark energy.

The current research focuses on younger black holes formed during periods of active star formation, informed by measurements from the Hubble and Webb space telescopes.

Future research aims to further investigate the location and movement of these black holes over the past 8 billion years, with ongoing studies currently underway.

The advent of DESI marks a significant advancement in dark energy research, shifting the focus from theoretical speculation to experimental inquiry.

The ancient energy that drove the Big Bang almost 14 billion years ago resembles today's dark energy, which constitutes roughly 70% of the universe, although its exact nature remains unknown.

This recent study builds on a 2023 report that examined cosmological coupling in supermassive black holes, encouraging broader investigations into various types of black holes.

According to the inflationary universe theory, the Big Bang was driven by a mysterious energy that led to an exponential expansion of the universe.