Joint Dark Energy Probe: Why are we falling apart?

Dark energy is the mysterious force that keeps the universe from imploding – or, some say, is pushing us all farther and farther apart. Other than that, we don’t know a thing about it. But, Nature reports, we soon will:

The panel gives top marks to a Joint Dark Energy Mission (JDEM) to probe dark energy, a mysterious force that is pushing the Universe apart. “JDEM will significantly advance both dark energy and general astrophysical research,” the report reads. In addition, the panel says, its billion-dollar price tag, to be split roughly equally with the US Department of Energy, makes it one of the cheaper options. The panel recommends starting the JDEM mission, for which the technologies are largely established, as early as 2009.