this post was submitted on 15 Oct 2024
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At a superficial level, sure. But that's in large part because of the nature of the problem. Dark Matter is the quintessential Unknown Unknown. It comes from the argument that we have a universe that is accelerating in its rate of expansion in a way that doesn't follow the understood shape of the universe.
Dark Matter / Energy solves the problem by positing a large invisible mass that's been compressed, like a spring, and is still being released following the Big Bang, propelling SpaceTime out in front of it.
But because all our measurements are occurring in a relatively small timeframe (relative to the history of the universe) and because we're working from a very limited perspective (not like we can pop over to the other side of the universe and confirm our findings), we have to make a lot of estimates and assumptions. Introducing/Dismissing some of these assumptions can "solve" certain problems very easily. But on closer inspection, they raise a bunch of new questions that can just as easily be debated.
That's more because AI is "hot" right now and astrophysics isn't paying anyone's bills.
I think you're conflating dark matter and dark energy, they are two different things. Dark Energy is what's accelerating universal expansion. Dark Matter slows it down.
and I would actually classify them as "known unknowns" since they are holes in our understanding of physics that we're aware of. A true unknown unknown wouldn't be in scientific discussion at all or have even been given a name; it would be completely off our radar.