UNIGE: Do Dark Matter & Dark Energy Really Exist?

[bystander]

Dark Matter & Dark Energy: Do They Really Exist?
University of Geneva (UNIGE) | 2017 Nov 22

A University of Geneva researcher has recently shown that the accelerating expansion of the universe and the movement of the stars in the galaxies can be explained without drawing on the concepts of dark matter and dark energy… which might not actually exist.

For close on a century, researchers have hypothesised that the universe contains more matter than can be directly observed, known as “dark matter.” They have also posited the existence of a “dark energy” that is more powerful than gravitational attraction. These two hypotheses, it has been argued, account for the movement of stars in galaxies and for the accelerating expansion of the universe respectively. But -- according to a researcher at the University of Geneva (UNIGE), Switzerland -- these concepts may be no longer valid: the phenomena they are supposed to describe can be demonstrated without them. This research, which is published in The Astrophysical Journal, exploits a new theoretical model based on the scale invariance of the empty space, potentially solving two of astronomy’s greatest mysteries. ...

Dynamical Effects of the Scale Invariance of the Empty Space: The Fall of Dark Matter? - Andre Maeder

• Astrophysical Journal 849(2):158 (2017 Nov 10) DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/aa92cc
  arXiv.org > astro-ph > arXiv:1710.11425 > 31 Oct 2017

Scale-Invariant Cosmology and CMB Temperatures as a Function of Redshifts - Andre Maeder

• Astrophysical Journal 847(1):65 (2017 Sep 20) DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/aa88cf
  arXiv.org > astro-ph > arXiv:1708.08648 > 29 Aug 2017

An Alternative to the ΛCDM Model: The Case of Scale Invariance - Andre Maeder

• Astrophysical Journal 834(2):194 (2017 Jan 10) DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/834/2/194
  arXiv.org > astro-ph > arXiv:1701.03964 > 14 Jan 2017

[Ann]

Well, this sounds hugely interesting, to be sure. Is "the scale invariance of the Universe" the same thing as the cosmological constant? And would this scale invariance (or cosmological constant) really explain the facts that are now attributed to dark energy and dark matter?

If this is true, how could it be proved?

Ann

[BDanielMayfield]

It is very interesting Ann. I wish to look into it further, because the universe would be a vastly more energy efficient place if these dark components weren't needed. This is a big plus for this idea.

I hope it is given a fair examination by cosmologists, given the huge investment in work on DM & DE that so many have labored on for decades. "Sorry guys, what you've been working on all your careers was unnecessary" would be a tough pill for many to swallow, I would imagine.

Bruce

[sallyseaver]

Bystander, thank you for posting about this development.