Researchers from the University of Cambridge have found a new way to measure dark energy, the mysterious force responsible for the universe’s accelerating expansion.

By studying the movement of Andromeda, our neighbouring galaxy on a collision course with the Milky Way, the researchers were able to place an upper limit on the value of the cosmological constant, which is a model of dark energy.

This upper limit was found to be five times higher than the value that can be detected from the early universe. Dark energy is a mysterious force that makes up about 68 per cent of the observable universe, while ordinary matter accounts for just 5 per cent.

Scientists believe that dark matter, which holds objects together, makes up about 27 per cent of the universe.

Dark energy, on the other hand, pushes objects apart and is responsible for the universe’s expansion. However, there is still much we don’t know about dark energy, including its exact nature and how to directly detect it.

By studying the mass and movement of Andromeda and the Milky Way, researchers are able to gain insights into the cosmological constant and dark energy.