In a new study that could reshape our understanding of the universe’s invisible framework, astrophysicists have discovered that dark matter—long considered to interact only through gravity—may actually behave under gravity in a way similar to ordinary, visible matter. This revelation challenges decades of assumptions about how galaxies form and evolve.

Unveiling the Invisible Universe

Dark matter makes up roughly 85% of the total matter in the universe, yet it cannot be seen or detected directly. Scientists have typically believed that dark matter passes through itself and other matter without friction or resistance. However, new computer simulations and galactic observations suggest that dark matter could clump and flow more like baryonic (ordinary) matter than previously thought.

Study Highlights Gravitational Parallels

The research team, led by scientists from the University of Cambridge and the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics, analyzed galaxy cluster dynamics and gravitational lensing data. Their findings reveal that dark matter particles might not be as “collisionless” as earlier models assumed. Instead, they may experience self-interactions or gravitational feedback that mirror how gas and stars behave within galactic halos.

Implications for Galaxy Formation

If dark matter truly mimics normal matter’s gravitational response, it could explain certain anomalies in galactic structures—such as the unexpectedly dense cores of some dwarf galaxies or the flattened shapes of galaxy clusters. The results may also bridge the gap between competing dark matter models, including Cold Dark Matter (CDM) and Self-Interacting Dark Matter (SIDM).

Challenging Conventional Cosmology

This discovery could force cosmologists to revisit key aspects of the ΛCDM (Lambda Cold Dark Matter) model, the standard framework used to describe the universe’s evolution. “If dark matter behaves more like ordinary matter, our simulations of early-universe structure formation may need significant updates,” said one of the study’s co-authors.

The Next Step in Understanding the Unknown

Future space missions and advanced telescopes—such as the Vera C. Rubin Observatory and the Euclid Space Telescope—are expected to provide more precise data to confirm or refine these findings. Researchers hope these observations will uncover how dark matter truly interacts with gravity and, potentially, with itself.