What Is Dark Energy?

The Dark Energy Camera began taking pictures late last month from an observatory in Chile, and its coming online was big news here in Illinois. The project is based at Fermilab in Batavia, and the data produced will be analyzed at the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign.

The camera will provide data on the universe's accelerating expansion, which is thought to be caused by "dark energy." But what is dark energy? You could check out a book or DVD on the topic, but perhaps you just want a quick introduction. Articles from our online resources can provide just that.

Here are some recommendations for young readers:

"Dark Energy"
By Joel R. Primack
World Book, 2013

"The Dark Side of the Universe"
By Stephen Ornes
Science News for Kids, April 26, 2011

And here are some recommendations for older readers:

"What Is Dark Energy" [PDF]
By Sean Carroll
Astronomy's 60 Greatest Mysteries (special issue of Sky & Telescope), 2013

"Probing the Biggest Mystery in the Universe"
By Richard Panek
Smithsonian, April 2010