The Cosmological Constant

The cosmological constant is a concept in physics representing a tiny, persistent energy inherent to space itself. It was introduced by Einstein to account for an observed acceleration in the universe's expansion. In simple terms, it acts like a repulsive force, pushing galaxies apart and causing the universe to grow faster over time. Although small, this energy has a significant impact on the universe’s large-scale behavior and helps explain the phenomenon of dark energy, which makes up a large part of the universe's total energy. Overall, the cosmological constant is key to understanding the universe's accelerated expansion.