Dark energy could lead to a 'Big Crunch' end for our universe: Study

A new study from Yonsei University in South Korea challenges the long-held belief that the universe’s expansion is accelerating due to a constant dark energy force. By analyzing 300 host galaxies of Type Ia supernovae—previously considered “standard candles” for measuring cosmic distances—the researchers discovered that the intrinsic brightness of these supernovae varies with the age of their progenitor stars. Older stellar populations produce brighter explosions, while younger ones appear fainter, meaning that the observed dimming of distant supernovae may be partly due to stellar age rather than accelerated expansion. This finding calls into question the assumption that dark energy is a constant force driving eternal cosmic acceleration. After correcting for this age-related bias, the study finds evidence that the universe’s expansion is actually decelerating, suggesting that dark energy weakens over time rather than remaining steady. This conclusion aligns with independent measurements from the Cosmic Microwave Background and Baryonic Acoustic Oscillations, which also hint at a fading dark energy effect. If confirmed