'Cannibal stars,' AI and the Rubin Observatory could shed light on the mystery of dark energy. Here's how

Using artificial intelligence and data from the groundbreaking Vera C. Rubin Observatory, scientists are reconsidering our knowledge of "standard candles" in the cosmos. These are objects that result from explosions provoked by dead stars that act like cannibals — and they help us measure distances across the universe. These standard candles are also called Type 1a supernovas , and their distance-measuring role is integral to measuring the rate at which the universe is expanding. …