Scientists believe that dark matter could be viewed as an alternative universe following a breakthrough study.
The new paper by Dr. Arushi Bodas, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Chicago’s Enrico Fermi Institute, and his colleagues, states that dark matter could and possibly should be viewed as a distorted alternate universe that never fully developed.
But before discussing the paper, it’s important to understand just how mysterious dark matter really is.
That’s easier said than done, however.
Despite it constituting more than 80 percent of all matter in the universe, scientists have yet to observe dark matter, Its existence is inferred because the behavior of stars, planets, and galaxies would be wholly inexplicable without its presence.
Dark matter is difficult to observe; in fact, it’s completely imperceptible. It emits zero light or energy, making it undetectable by conventional sensors and detectors.
Scientists believe its composition is the key to understanding its mysterious nature. Visible matter, also known as baryonic matter, is composed of subatomic particles called baryons, which consist of protons, neutrons, and electrons. The composition of dark matter, on the other hand, remains speculative.
Potentially, it could consist of baryons, but it could also be composed of non-baryonic matter, which refers to different types of particles. The prevailing belief among scientists is that dark matter is primarily composed of non-baryonic matter. Another potential candidate is neutralinos, hypothetical particles that are heavier and slower than neutrinos, although they have yet to be observed.
Sterile neutrinos are also considered as a candidate for dark matter. Neutrinos are particles that do not contribute to regular matter. While a stream of neutrinos emanates from the sun, they rarely interact with normal matter and pass through the Earth and billions of inhabitants. Among the three known types of neutrinos, the sterile neutrino is proposed as a potential dark matter candidate. It would only interact with regular matter through gravity.
The most recent hypothesis proposes that dark matter exists in a distorted parallel universe within our own, where atoms are unable to come together. In the realm of ordinary matter, protons and neutrons possess almost identical masses, creating the necessary conditions for the formation of stable atoms.
The recent study proposes the existence of a potential shadow universe where protons and neutrons have asymmetrical masses, resulting in a chaotic mix of subatomic particles that rarely interact. In other words, the polar opposite of how conventional matter operates. This phenomenon could also clarify why dark matter does not aggregate.
Ever since astronomers initially suspected the presence of dark matter in the 1930s, debates surrounding what it is (and isn’t) have raged. Observations indicate that it surpasses ordinary matter by a ratio of 6 to 1. Galaxies and galaxy clusters are surrounded by massive spheres, known as “halos,” of dark matter.
To remain undetected, astronomers theorize that this substantial amount of material must be composed of particles that have minimal interaction with ordinary matter or even with each other. Their primary function is to provide the gravitational framework for luminous matter. Astronomers believe that these halos were created in the early stages of cosmic history and subsequently attracted ordinary matter, which, due to its diverse range of behaviors, evolved into complex structures, while dark matter, being inert, remained unchanged.
Dark energy, on the other hand, seems to only serve the purpose of accelerating cosmic expansion, and the existing evidence suggests that it has remained constant throughout the existence of the universe.
Although a minority of scientists reject the idea of dark matter, there is now a plethora of evidence supporting its existence, with one of the most straightforward explanations involving the rotation of galaxies.
As Dr. Don Lincoln, a senior scientist at Fermilab, America’s leading particle physics laboratory, has noted, despite the gravitational pull towards the Sun, the planets’ velocities result in nearly circular orbits.
The balance between velocity and gravity dictates that planets farther from the Sun move at a slower pace compared to those in closer proximity. Similarly, in galaxies, stars follow a similar pattern, with the laws of physics making analogous predictions.
Specifically, stars located further from the galactic center should move at a slower pace than those nearer to it.
However, observations by astronomers reveal that stars in the outer regions of galaxies move faster than anticipated. If the laws of gravity and motion hold true, the only plausible explanation is the presence of additional, unseen matter intensifying the gravitational force experienced by these rapidly moving stars.
The new paper by Dr. Bodas and his colleagues is just the latest to solidify the “dark matter really does exist’ thesis.
