A wild new study has shaken up the conventional understanding of gravity, proposing that gravity can exist without mass, potentially eliminating the need for dark matter in the Universe. Both Newton’s laws and Einstein’s theory of general relativity have historically linked gravity exclusively with mass and the curvature of spacetime by mass. However, this groundbreaking research introduces a transformative concept, questioning the established belief that gravity is exclusively within the domain of matter.
For centuries, the elusive substance known as dark matter has perplexed physicists. Dark matter, an invisible mass hypothesized to account for a substantial portion of the Universe’s total mass, has evaded direct observation. The concept of dark matter was originally conceived to explain the stability of galaxies under high-speed rotation. However, its elusive nature has led to a myriad of alternative theories to reconcile the gaps in current scientific understanding, including the recent proposition that gravity can exist devoid of mass.
Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity, renowned as the paramount model for describing gravity, has long been associated with the presence of mass in the fabric of spacetime. Nevertheless, peculiar astronomical observations dating back to the 1930s, particularly regarding rapid galaxy cluster movements, have sparked skepticism about the traditional understanding of gravity. These observations prompted the conjecture that an invisible substance, namely dark matter, pervades the Universe, exerting gravitational effects contrasting with visible matter.
Unveiling a disconcerting gap in the conventional understanding of the Universe, a recent paper presents a provocative alternative hypothesis that challenges the prevalent notion of dark matter. The paper posits that gravity could manifest without mass, yielding comparable effects attributed to dark matter. This revolutionary proposal ignites a paradigm shift, potentially reshaping the principles that underpin our comprehension of the Universe and its mysterious components.
Emanating from the profound curiosity that has driven astronomical inquiries, the notion of dark matter continues to elude definitive comprehension. Initially postulated by Dutch astronomer Jan Oort in 1932 to account for the enigmatic “missing mass” essential to the gravitational clumping of galaxies, dark matter persists as an enigma, remaining as cryptic and elusive as when it was first conjectured nearly a century ago. The persistent elusiveness of dark matter mirrors the enduring quest to unravel the fundamental mysteries emanating from the cosmos, catalyzing impassioned scientific exploration and innovative theoretical proposals to decipher the cosmos’ cryptic phenomena.
