New study suggests dark matter as distorted parallel universe

NEW DELHI: Scientists have put forward a theory that dark matter might actually be an alternate universe.
In a recent study quoted by Daily Express, Dr Arushi Bodas and his team at the University of Chicago’s Enrico Fermi Institute suggest that dark matter could be seen as a distorted parallel universe that never fully developed.
Dark matter has always been a mysterious concept. Despite making up more than 80% of all matter in the universe, scientists have never directly observed it. Its existence is inferred from the behavior of stars, planets, and galaxies, which would be impossible to explain without the presence of dark matter. The problem is that dark matter is completely imperceptible – it emits no light or energy and cannot be detected using conventional sensors and detectors.
The composition of dark matter is still speculative. While visible matter, also known as baryonic matter, is made up of subatomic particles called baryons (such as protons, neutrons, and electrons), the prevailing belief among scientists is that dark matter is primarily composed of non-baryonic matter, such as neutralinos or sterile neutrinos.
The new study suggests that dark matter exists in a distorted parallel universe within our own, where atoms are unable to come together. In our universe, protons and neutrons possess almost identical masses, allowing stable atoms to form. However, in this potential shadow universe, protons and neutrons have asymmetrical masses, resulting in a chaotic mix of subatomic particles that rarely interact. This is the polar opposite of how conventional matter operates and could explain why dark matter does not aggregate.
Since the 1930s, astronomers have suspected the presence of dark matter with indicating 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. 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.
While some scientists still reject the idea of dark matter, there is now a wealth of evidence supporting its existence. One of the most straightforward explanations involves the rotation of galaxies. Despite the gravitational pull towards the Sun, the planets’ velocities result in nearly circular orbits. Similarly, stars in galaxies should follow a similar pattern, with those further from the galactic center moving at a slower pace than those nearer to it. However, observations have shown that stars in the outer regions of galaxies move faster than expected. The only plausible explanation for this anomaly is the presence of additional, unseen matter intensifying the gravitational force experienced by these rapidly moving stars.