What part of unobservable and untestable do you not grasp? It literally cant not be interacted with. It has all the hallmarks of a religious belief.
Observations were made that crushed the current gravitational paradigm in regards to astrophysics. There was literally no way out, no way of explaining why the rotations of galaxies did not match up with what they should be (according to the model). So what did they do? They concocted something to balance the equations, something they never observed, tested, experimented for, something which can never be observed, tested, and experimented for.
Stop being so naïve. They clearly manufactured it, rather than admit there might be a problem with the prevailing paradigm. That is not science at all. When observational data contradicts a paradigm at the fundamental level you are obliged to go back to the drawing board and look for mistakes made.
This is a prevailing theme of 20th/21st century astrophysics. Time and again the observational data completely undermines the gravitational paradigm, but these institutions refuse to concede their dogma and just double-down with more and more fantastical creations.
First it was black holes, because there was no way to explain the energy levels observed at the centre of galaxies. Then it was pulsars, neutron stars rotating so fast that they defy established laws of nuclear physics, because there was no way to explain the rapid pulsation of observed entities in space. And then dark matter, something which can't ever be seen or tested for.
Your problem is you just refuse to admit that science itself might be corrupted by the same human tendencies that have not changed in millennia, that corrupted religious thinking (and whatever was before that).
Do you genuinely believe that black holes aren't real? We have a photo of one.
The principle that "absence of evidence is not evidence of absence" is fundamental in empirical science, particularly in fields like cosmology where direct observations are often challenging. This maxim underscores that just because we cannot observe something directly with current technologies or methods, it does not categorically mean that it does not exist. Instead, it may suggest that our tools or understanding are not yet adequate to detect or interact with it. This principle has guided many scientific discoveries; for instance, the existence of atoms was widely accepted long before technology allowed for their direct observation.
The hypotheses of dark matter and dark energy were formulated in response to observable anomalies that could not be explained by existing theories alone:
Dark Matter: Observations of galaxy rotations revealed that the outer regions of galaxies rotate at the same rate as closer to the center, contrary to what would be expected if only visible matter were present. The gravitational effects needed to prevent these galaxies from tearing apart suggest the presence of an additional, unseen mass, which we call dark matter.
Dark Energy: The discovery of the accelerated expansion of the universe came from observations of distant supernovae. These observations were incompatible with a universe composed solely of attractive matter (ordinary or dark). Dark energy, a repulsive force, was posited to explain this acceleration, fundamentally altering our understanding of the universe’s expansion.
Scientific theories are not immutable truths but are instead constantly tested and refined. The discovery of phenomena that do not fit existing theories does not lead to the immediate discarding of these theories but rather to their reassessment and refinement. The introduction of dark matter and dark energy are prime examples of theory evolution, not of scientific failure. These concepts are placeholders for phenomena that current theories cannot otherwise account for, guiding further research and experimental testing.
Historical skepticism towards now-accepted concepts like black holes or neutron stars highlights a recurrent pattern in science: initial doubt followed by gradual acceptance as evidence accumulates. For instance:
Black Holes: Predicted by general relativity, they were initially considered mathematical curiosities until astronomical observations of celestial phenomena suggested their physical reality.
Pulsars and Neutron Stars: Their discovery provided not only confirmation of theoretical predictions about supernova remnants but also insights into the behavior of matter under extreme conditions.
These discoveries illustrate how scientific knowledge progresses from theoretical predictions to observational confirmation, a journey also expected for dark matter and dark energy as technology advances.
The scientific method includes mechanisms like peer review, publication, and replication to mitigate individual biases and errors. These processes foster a self-correcting system where theories must withstand rigorous testing and skepticism from the scientific community. While individual scientists may indeed exhibit biases, the collaborative and competitive nature of scientific research acts as a counterbalance, driving towards more objective and reliable conclusions.
The development of new technologies and methodologies has historically been a catalyst for major breakthroughs in scientific understanding. These innovations often lead to either the confirmation of existing theories or to revolutionary discoveries that compel the scientific community to rethink fundamental concepts. This process is evident in the ongoing research into dark matter and dark energy, where cutting-edge instruments such as the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), various space-based telescopes, and forthcoming initiatives like the Vera C. Rubin Observatory play pivotal roles. These tools are not merely extensions of our sensory capabilities; they redefine the boundaries of what is observable and knowable.
Galileo's Telescope: In the early 17th century, Galileo Galilei enhanced the design of the newly invented telescope. His observations, including the moons of Jupiter and the phases of Venus, provided robust support for the Copernican model of a heliocentric solar system, challenging the long-standing geocentric model upheld by classical thinkers and the Church.
Newton’s Reflecting Telescope: Isaac Newton’s development of the reflecting telescope in the late 17th century addressed the issue of chromatic aberration found in refracting telescopes. This advancement was crucial not only for astronomical observations but also for supporting his theories of light and color.
The Discovery of Neptune: Neptune's existence was mathematically predicted by Urbain Le Verrier, after discrepancies in the orbit of Uranus could not be explained by known celestial mechanics. The subsequent visual confirmation of Neptune in 1846, using a telescope, was a dramatic validation of Newtonian gravity and showcased the predictive power of mathematical physics.
Radio Telescopes and the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB): The development of radio astronomy in the 20th century led to the discovery of the CMB radiation, providing evidence for the Big Bang theory. This was a significant advancement that shifted the paradigm from a steady-state model of the universe to one of dynamic expansion.
The Large Hadron Collider (LHC): Located at CERN, the LHC is the world's largest and most powerful particle accelerator, designed to collide protons at high energies. It offers unique opportunities to create and detect particles that might constitute dark matter, under conditions that mimic the early universe.
Space-Based Telescopes: Instruments like the Hubble Space Telescope and the upcoming James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) extend our view beyond the atmospheric limitations of Earth. These telescopes can observe the effects and distribution of dark matter through gravitational lensing and other phenomena, and study the expansion rate of the universe to understand the nature of dark energy.
Vera C. Rubin Observatory: Currently under construction, this observatory will conduct the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), which aims to create an unprecedentedly detailed map of the universe over 10 years. It's expected to observe billions of galaxies and likely provide crucial data on the structure and distribution of dark matter as well as insights into the properties of dark energy by observing supernovae and mapping galaxy clusters.
These technological advancements are not merely incremental improvements in our observational capacity but are transformative tools that have the potential to reshape our understanding of the universe. Just as historical instruments allowed us to confirm the heliocentric model or discover new planets, modern instruments like the LHC, space-based telescopes, and the Vera C. Rubin Observatory hold the key to unraveling some of the most profound mysteries in cosmology: dark matter and dark energy. Whether they will confirm these components as envisioned, modify our current understanding, or perhaps lead us to new, unforeseen discoveries, remains one of the most exciting questions in contemporary science.
One compelling historical example of an initially undetectable phenomenon that mirrors the current challenges with dark matter and dark energy is the discovery of neutrinos. This subatomic particle was hypothesized under circumstances similar to those leading to the hypotheses of dark matter and dark energy—through the need to explain missing energy and momentum in certain nuclear reactions, specifically beta decay.
In the early 20th century, scientists observed that when an atom underwent beta decay (a type of radioactive decay), the electrons emitted did not have the energy they were expected to have according to the conservation laws of physics. According to classical physics, the energy of the electrons emitted in beta decay should have been consistent and predictable. However, measurements showed a spectrum of energy outputs, suggesting that energy was being lost or unaccounted for in each decay event.
In 1930, physicist Wolfgang Pauli proposed a radical solution to this problem. He suggested the existence of an as yet undetected particle, which he called the "neutron" (later renamed the "neutrino" by Enrico Fermi to avoid confusion with James Chadwick's neutron). Pauli's neutrino was extremely light, possibly even massless, and did not interact with matter through electromagnetic forces, which made it incredibly difficult to detect. Pauli himself famously remarked that he had done a terrible thing by proposing a particle that could never be detected.
Neutrinos interact with other matter only via the weak nuclear force and gravity, making them almost ghostlike in their ability to pass through ordinary matter undetected. In fact, trillions of neutrinos pass through the human body (and the Earth) every second without any interaction. The challenge of detecting neutrinos mirrored the current issues with detecting dark matter, in that both types of particles interact with ordinary matter in extremely minimal ways, requiring indirect methods of observation.
It wasn't until 1956—more than a quarter-century after Pauli's hypothesis—that scientists Clyde Cowan and Frederick Reines confirmed the existence of neutrinos. They did so through the Savannah River Experiment, where they used a nuclear reactor as a neutrino source and detected the particles via their interactions in a large tank of water. This detection involved observing the tiny flashes of light produced by the rare interactions of neutrinos with the nuclei of water molecules, a technique that required innovative and sensitive instrumentation.
The confirmation of the neutrino was a monumental step in physics, impacting our understanding of fundamental particles and forces, and leading to significant developments in particle physics and cosmology. The discovery process—from hypothesis to indirect detection methods—parallels the scientific journey toward understanding dark matter and dark energy today. Like neutrinos, dark matter and dark energy do not interact in any of the conventional electromagnetic ways with ordinary matter; their detection depends on observing their gravitational effects or other indirect signs.
The pursuit of dark matter and dark energy, though currently unresolved, follows this tradition of scientific inquiry where innovative technologies and methodologies eventually lead to breakthroughs that confirm or redefine our understanding of the universe. Just as neutrino detectors evolved to observe these elusive particles, current and future technologies are being developed to detect and understand dark matter and dark energy.
