How the Discovery of Dark Energy Inspires a New Wave of Physics Enthusiasts

In 1998, astronomers delivered a groundbreaking revelation: spacetime, the fundamental structure fostering our universe, not only expanded but did so at an accelerating rate. This marked the introduction of the concept of cosmic acceleration. The question arose: what triggered this speedup? It appeared to emerge inexplicably from the vacuum itself.

According to the principles of general relativity, this cosmic acceleration suggests that spacetime is not entirely devoid of energy; rather, it harbors the mysterious forces driving its expansion. This energy…