The astronomers measured the quantity and energy of X-rays emitted by eight distant galaxy clusters.

BBC: NEWS | Science/Nature | Dark energy tops science class

Another group of researchers wants to study galaxy clusters using a phenomenon called gravitational lensing.

ECONOMIST: Cosmology

If those objects are galaxy clusters, the growth-rates of such clusters at different times can then be worked out, and inferences drawn about the history of dark energy.

ECONOMIST: Cosmology

As galaxy clusters form, they create clouds of hot electrons.

ECONOMIST: Cosmology

Galaxy clusters are the largest stable structures in our Universe.

BBC: 'El Gordo' is largest distant galaxy cluster ever seen

To that end, the 570-megapixel camera will eventually measure up to 300 million galaxies up to 8 billion light years distant, as well as 100, 000 galaxy clusters, and 5, 000 supernovae.

FORBES: Dark Energy Camera Could Reshape Einstein Cosmology

It will also map out in 3D the distribution of galaxy clusters, measuring what are known as baryon acoustic oscillations - literally relics of the sound echoes of the Big Bang.

BBC: Dark energy camera snaps first images ahead of survey

The camera should be able to gather enough data to allow all four possible avenues for exploring dark energy: galaxy clusters, supernovae, large-scale galaxy clumping and weak gravitational lensing, at the same time.

ENGADGET: DECam: Gazing deep into the final frontier in search of dark energy

In the new image, the full-scale distribution of vast clumps of dark matter can be seen around galaxy clusters, connected by wispy filaments of dark matter and trailing off to enormous voids where no matter exists.

BBC: Dark matter hints in widest-yet view of dark mystery

For example, the distance between the centers of two black holes in galaxy clusters distant from each other and the gap between cell walls in a living organism differ on a vast scale, despite their sharing of common structures at the atomic level.

FORBES: Density Of Meaning: Creation As The Flip Side Of Memory