A new study is turning the scientific community upside-down. Researchers from the University of Ottawa suggest the universe might not contain dark matter, a component that has been a fundamental part of cosmological models for years.
Dark matter is a term used in cosmology to describe a type of matter that does not interact with light or the electromagnetic field, making it invisible and detectable only through its gravitational effects. Scientists have long believed that dark matter makes up about 27 percent of the universe, with ordinary matter constituting less than 5 percent, and the rest being dark energy. This understanding has helped explain the behavior of galaxies, stars, and planets.
The Crab Nebula – a remnant of a supernova explosion which in its center contains a pulsar. The pulsar makes the ordinary matter in the form of gas in the nebula light up. As the researchers have now shown, it may do the same with dark matter in the form of axions, leading to a subtle additional glow that can be measured.The Crab Nebula – a remnant of a supernova explosion which in its center contains a pulsar. The pulsar makes the ordinary matter in the form of gas in the nebula light up. As the researchers have now shown, it may do the same with dark matter in the form of axions, leading to a subtle additional glow that can be measured. (Credit:: NASA/CXC/ASU/J. Hester et al.)
Earlier this year, scientists from Yonsei University say they were the first in the world to directly detect the elusive web-like dark matter filaments that underpin the structure of the universe. Does this new study throw cold water on their findings?
Rajendra Gupta, a physics professor at the University of Ottawa, is challenging the notion dark matter exists in a study published in the Astrophysical Journal. Gupta’s research employs a combination of the covarying coupling constants (CCC) and “tired light” (TL) theories, together known as the CCC+TL model. This innovative model posits that the forces of nature weaken over cosmic time and that light loses energy as it travels long distances. Gupta’s findings, which align with several observations about the distribution of galaxies and the evolution of light from the early universe, suggest that the universe operates differently than currently believed.
“The study’s findings confirm that our previous work about the age of the universe being 26.7 billion years has allowed us to discover that the universe does not require dark matter to exist,” explains Gupta in a media release. “In standard cosmology, the accelerated expansion of the universe is said to be caused by dark energy but is in fact due to the weakening forces of nature as it expands, not due to dark energy.”
The concept of “redshifts,” which occurs when light is shifted toward the red part of the spectrum, plays a crucial role in Gupta’s analysis. By examining data on the distribution of galaxies at low redshifts and the angular size of the sound horizon at high redshifts, Gupta challenges the cosmological necessity of dark matter.
Artist conception of early starbursting galaxies. Artist conception of early starbursting galaxies. The image is rendered from FIRE simulation data used for this research that can explain recent JWST results. Stars and galaxies are shown in the bright white points of light, while the more diffuse dark matter and gas are shown in purples and reds. (Credit: Aaron M. Geller, Northwestern, CIERA + IT-RCDS)
Gupta’s research stands out in the scientific community as it not only questions the existence of dark matter but also proposes a cosmological model that remains consistent with key observations.
“There are several papers that question the existence of dark matter, but mine is the first one, to my knowledge, that eliminates its cosmological existence while being consistent with key cosmological observations that we have had time to confirm,” notes Gupta.
This study opens new doors for understanding the fundamental properties of the universe. By suggesting a universe without dark matter, Gupta’s work invites scientists to explore alternative explanations for the phenomena that dark matter was theorized to explain. This paradigm shift could lead to significant advancements in our understanding of the cosmos and the natural forces that govern it.
Source : https://www.spacechatter.com/2024/03/19/no-dark-matter-in-universe