String theorist and others have theories about the "big bang" or more
accurately the "big inflation". Apparently matter at that time must
have been moving at greater than the speed of light or space was
growing at faster than the speed of light. Dark matter/energy appears
to be the suspect of the energy required to inflate the universe
(powerful stuff). Given there is dark matter/energy in the universe is
there any concievable experiement to measure the amount of dark energy
in a given unit of volume on earth. Is there a way to harness the
energy to preform work? The experiments do not have to be probable
just possible.
    If the question is inaccurate or based on false assumptions please
explain with references.

Space itself was expanding at ftl speeds during the inflationary
epoch, rather than matter moving through space at those speeds.  The
first case doesn't violate GR, but the second one would.

>Dark matter/energy appears to be the suspect of the energy required
to inflate the universe (powerful stuff)

I don't think this is a mainstream theory - dark energy / matter
aren't required by inflationary theories.

Ian G.