**Scientists Validate Einstein's Theory of Gravity with 11 Billion Years of Data**

In a breakthrough study, an international team of scientists has confirmed that gravity behaves as Albert Einstein predicted over vast cosmic scales, aligning with his 1915 theory of general relativity. This research, spanning 11 billion years, offers the most precise test yet of gravitational behavior on a galactic scale.

The findings announced recently are part of a comprehensive study on the history of the universe that focuses on dark energy, an elusive force causing the accelerated expansion of the cosmos. Utilizing an instrumental year of observations from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) at Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona, scientists examined light from 5,000 galaxies simultaneously.

Gravity, one of the universe's foundational forces, was linked to space and time by Einstein’s general relativity. According to his theory, mass and energy concentrations warp the fabric of space-time, thus affecting the motion of any nearby objects. "Einstein's theory of general relativity describes the motion of massive objects in a gravitational field they create. It is one of the most successful physical theories we have," remarked University of Michigan cosmologist Dragan Huterer, co-leader of the working group that interpreted the DESI data.

Recent DESI findings validate that gravity operates as Einstein envisioned. This confirmation comes from DESI’s analysis of the cosmic structure's growth, tracing back to a universe only 20% of its current age.

This large-scale structure consists of galaxies, clusters, and superclusters arranged in a cosmic web of interwoven filaments and voids, shaped significantly by the gravitational force. The study was based on observations of nearly 6 million galaxies and their bright cores, dating back 11 billion years.

The DESI team had previously disclosed the largest 3D map of the universe, hinting that dark energy might be dynamic rather than constant. This new analysis broadens those findings. "Our DESI data indicates consistency with Einstein's theory of gravity while also suggesting a dynamical dark energy," stated astrophysicist Mustapha Ishak-Boushaki of the University of Texas at Dallas, co-leader of the working group.

Ishak-Boushaki added, "Dark energy appears to be weakening, altering the prospects for the universe's future expansion. The notion that dark energy is dynamic is possibly the most significant discovery since cosmic acceleration was identified in 1998."

Presently, the universe comprises ordinary matter, dark matter—which could form about 27% of the cosmos—and dark energy, which may constitute 68% of the universe. "Dark energy is responsible for the accelerating expansion of the universe. Its true nature remains unknown," according to Huterer.

The recent findings support the prevailing cosmological standard model that encompasses general relativity theory. "Ensuring the accuracy of the standard model is a critical focus in cosmology research," Huterer emphasized.

The DESI project involves over 900 researchers from more than 70 institutions globally. The U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory manages the collaboration. The groundbreaking research has been made available on the arXiv online repository ahead of peer review.