Scientists have posited the existence of a fifth dimension connecting all the elements of light and dark in the universe. In a new study published in the European Physical Journal, a group of German and Spanish scientists has proposed an explanation for dark matter—a mysterious, invisible substance constituting a quarter of the universe.
Their theory is based on the existence of a hypothetical particle that, if real, could traverse this extra dimension. It could ultimately shed light on one of the most perplexing questions that has stumped scientists for over a century.
Our understanding of the universe relies on the existence of dark matter, which governs the movement of stars within galaxies. However, we have yet to explain the mechanisms behind the immense power of dark matter.
Because dark matter neither emits nor reflects light, it remains invisible, and as a result, we have no concrete evidence of its existence. This means that everything we know about reality and the tangible universe is based on the assumption that dark matter exists, as we lack specific proof.
In an effort to provide proof of the existence of this elusive matter, scientists at Johannes Gutenberg University in Germany and the University of Granada in Spain have proposed a new type of subatomic particle. This particle, which remains undiscovered as of now, binds dark matter with ordinary matter, making up the majority of the universe.
To do this, it transitions from the four dimensions of the universe that we are familiar with (three dimensions of space and one of time) to a hypothetical fifth dimension.
If this heavy particle indeed exists, it would need to bind with the tangible matter we know and study in detail the components that make up dark matter. The hypothesis suggests that this dark matter has a different structure than fundamental fermion particles, a type of subatomic particle that exists in the fifth dimension of the universe.
Scientists explain that this particle behaves similarly to and interacts with the Higgs boson, a fundamental particle responsible for mass. Regrettably, unlike the Higgs boson, this new particle is too heavy to be detected by current particle accelerators.
However, the assumption of the existence of this particle and the fifth dimension it controls provides a unique window of opportunity for glimpsing dark matter. Since there is no way to test this theory, it remains unknown whether this discovery is a groundbreaking explanation or merely an impractical theoretical framework.
Scientists hope that other experts may take note of this theoretical model while conducting particle physics research, as who knows if this research may open a new and unprecedented chapter in our understanding of the vast cosmos in which we reside.