I never got far enough into physics to comprehend dark matter, other than it seemed to be a “convenience” to account for “missing” matter to account for the gravitational forces needed, by calculation, to hold galaxies together.
As such, thinking back to the physics I did have (perhaps demonstrating I only know enough to screw things up) I wonder about the 19th century classical concept of the “ether”.
The ether was supposed to be the medium on which electromagnetic waves propagate. When physicists determined that light was just an electromagnetic wave, they wondered how, as a wave, it managed to propagate through space (vacuum) since other waves, like sound or water, needed a medium. So, they figured there was a mysterious “ether” that served this purpose.
They ultimately rejected this concept and basically said that light needs no medium on which to propagate.
So I wonder: is it possible that the old dudes were right and that the ether exists and it is made of dark matter?
I’ve pondered the parallels between dark matter/dark energy and ether theories myself. Went to school at CWRU and was there on the anniversary of Michelson-Morley’s failed experiment to detect ether. After a few beers, more than a few of us went through the mental exercise of wondering if they had screwed up the experiment and what if ether really did exist...
Never occurred to me that dark matter and ether might be one in the same, but it’s an interesting idea.
I don’t know enough about the theories to have an opinion, but I suspect dark matter is way to simple and convenient an answer. The real answer is likely going to be surprising, strange and unexpected and will likely lead to even more questions than it answers.
Don't even try. It's BS. I see it as a mathematical construct created by certain eggheads to help solve their equations and explain their failures to see the Hand of God at work in the cosmos. And all the other boobs like deGrasse Tyson merrily follow along saying, "Oh yeah! That MUST be it!"
They ultimately rejected this concept and basically said that light needs no medium on which to propagate.
...
Einstein was the one who said it, and his successful version of relativity was the result. And he just didn’t say it, experiments demonstrated it.
Modern science's most popular equation is: actual_results = expected_results x kluge_factor
There are many Kluge factors at work in the multi-billion dollar global warming industry. The idea of dark matter is a huge Kluge factor.
It's starting to look like Newton and Einstein may have been closer to the truth all along. A very interesting physics article worth a read is: Fluid Tests Hint at Concrete Quantum Reality
I have “The Radio Handbook, First Edition, First Printing” from 1935 that still claims that radio waves (and light/other waves) use “the ether” as a propagation medium.