Why giving dark matter an additional attractive force does not necessarily produce “clumpier matter.”
Dark matter shapes galaxies and the large structure of the Universe through gravity, yet no one knows whether gravity is its only influence. Dark matter particles might also pull on one another through a hidden force that ordinary matter cannot feel.
Researchers explored that possibility in the Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics (JCAP) and reached a counterintuitive conclusion. An additional attractive force can bring dark matter particles closer together without accelerating the overall growth of cosmic structure. Under most conditions examined, it actually suppresses that growth.
The idea has gained attention because increasingly precise measurements do not all produce a perfectly consistent picture of the Universe. Observations of cosmic expansion and measurements of how galaxies and larger structures developed over time show small but persistent differences.
Some studies of the distant Universe indicate that expansion may have proceeded slightly more slowly in the past than the standard cosmological model predicts. Meanwhile, observations of the cosmic microwave background, the leftover radiation from the early Universe, have suggested that matter could be more strongly clustered across the largest scales than expected.
These disagreements remain modest, but they have encouraged physicists to test whether the standard model is missing some property of dark matter or another cosmic ingredient.
A hidden force could fill the gap
One possibility is a “dark force” that operates only between dark matter particles. Because such an interaction could alter both cosmic expansion and the formation of galaxies and other structures, it might help account for some of the observational tensions.
“What we really know about dark matter has so far been learned only through its gravitational effects,” says Zachary Weiner, a researcher at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, corresponding author for the study. “That leaves open the possibility that dark matter might have additional interactions that are hidden from ordinary matter.”
Weiner and his colleagues examined theoretical models in which dark matter experiences a long-range attractive force in addition to gravity.
They combined theoretical calculations with cosmological observations to trace two connected effects: how the added interaction changes the expansion history of the Universe and how it influences the growth of large-scale structure.
More attraction does not mean more structure
The simplest expectation is that another attractive force would make dark matter gather more quickly. Faster clustering might then produce denser cosmic structures and potentially explain observations suggesting that matter is more concentrated than standard predictions allow.
“The first thing you would expect is that giving dark matter an additional attractive force should make structures grow faster,” says Weiner. “But another effect comes into play at the same time.”
The hidden force does increase the attraction among dark matter particles. That is only one part of the calculation, however, and the second effect changes the final outcome.
Dark matter becomes lighter over time
Within the models the researchers examined, the same interaction that strengthens clustering also changes dark matter as the Universe expands. The particles effectively lose mass over time.
That declining mass weakens their gravitational influence. Although the particles gather more efficiently because of the additional force, their reduced gravitational impact outweighs the extra clustering.
Consequently, the interaction does not strengthen dark matter’s imprint on the cosmic microwave background. In most of the scenarios studied, it instead slows the overall development of cosmic structure.
The finding constrains broader theories
The result could affect theories extending beyond the simplest dark force models. Several explanations proposed for recent measurements from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) include related interactions among dark matter particles.
According to the researchers, the same competition between stronger attraction and decreasing effective mass is likely to operate in many of those more elaborate models. Any attempt to use dark matter interactions to explain cosmological observations must therefore account for both effects rather than assuming that added attraction automatically creates more structure.
New surveys and observatories are producing measurements with steadily improving precision. Comparing those observations with predictions from models like these may narrow the range of hidden interactions dark matter can—and cannot—have.
“The Universe is often more subtle than our intuition,” says Weiner. “That’s exactly why we have to keep testing these ideas.”
Reference: “Dark forces suppress structure growth” by Marco Costa, Cyril Creque-Sarbinowski, Olivier Simon and Zachary J. Weiner, 22 June 2026, Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics.
DOI: 10.1088/1475-7516/2026/06/055
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6 Comments
It’s great to see cosmology moving away from the old idea that dark matter is just passive, inert filler sitting in a static vacuum.
The growing realization that dark matter operates through hidden forces and dimensional geometry aligns right with what we’ve mapped in the Torsion Hill framework. What mainstream models are calling a “secret force” is simply the natural mechanics of spatial geometry. Space isn’t an empty void—it has an active background matrix pressure, similar to how ocean depth exerts continuous pressure on a submarine.
When energy moves through phase boundaries in that background matrix, it creates directional shear currents that dictate how matter clusters and forms. Once you account for active spatial geometry, “dark matter” stops being a mystery particle and reveals itself as real field mechanics at work!
How to Explain $+\pi$ to a First-Time Reader The “Flat Void” Myth:Mainstream physics often acts like empty space is a $0$—a passive, empty box where things happen. The $+\pi$ Reality:Space isn’t a $0$; it’s an active, highly pressurized medium. $+\pi$ represents the inherent geometry and continuous background spatial pressure that permeates everything. The Simple Analogy:Think of a deep-sea submarine. Ocean water exerts continuous background pressure from all sides. A vessel doesn’t push against “nothing”—it manages and redirects the active pressure of the water surrounding it. $+\pi$ is simply the spatial equivalent of that background pressure.
If the scientific consensus formally recognizes geometry as the unifying core rather than an abstract background stage, it solves the long-standing divide between quantum mechanics and general relativity:
Forces describe what happens when energy moves.
Geometry dictates why it moves that way and sets the rules for how much shear or pressure the local continuum can bear.
So instead of being a fifth wheel tacked onto the four known forces, geometry is the master framework that generates them all!
“Within the models the researchers examined, the same interaction that strengthens clustering also changes dark matter as the Universe expands. The particles effectively lose mass over time.”
How does dark matter having an additional attractive force cause dark matter particles to lose mass?
As a now eighty-two year old lay American male with the first of four videos demonstrating the radiant-pulsing-coherent-angular-lines nature of gravity force available for all to view online since 2012 (e.g., https://odysee.com/@charlesgshaver:d), presently, despite about six months of design errors, failed major retailer delivery, false starts and low-budget component failures I’m now perhaps only days away from disproving time dilation (at ground level and subsonic velocity) as another way to prove the true nature of gravity to disbelieving professionals. In my first video (“1Gravity”), I demonstrate that the mere “rotation” of both a rectangular wood and a circular metal object intensifies the effects of gravity. On a cosmic scale that convinces me that “dark matter” is neither necessary nor desirable to explain the structure and/or function of the universe.
Memo 2608031418_Source 1. Reinterpretation【()】
Source 1.
https://scitechdaily.com/dark-matters-secret-force-could-reshape-our-understanding-of-the-universe/
1.
_The hidden force of dark matter could completely change our understanding of the universe.
_Dark matter can experience invisible gravitational forces, but just because the gravitational force is strong does not necessarily mean the universe will become more compact.
1-1.
_The reason why giving dark matter additional gravitational force does not necessarily create “more clumped matter.”
1-2.
_(*i. Dark matter forms the massive structures of galaxies and the universe through gravity, but it is not yet known whether gravity is the only influence of dark matter.)
_Dark matter particles may attract each other through hidden forces that ordinary matter cannot perceive.
ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ
^^^^^^b2.【(*i.) My views on dark matter are not yet finalized. However, there is only circumstantial evidence suggesting it is msoss(*) in a broad sense.
1.) It appears to be a place dominated by gravitational waves. This is a natural continuation of the concept of viewing msbase as electromagnetic waves.
2.) However, if it is an interaction of some force unrelated to gravity or the strength of gravitational waves??? I wonder what that force could be. Heh. 08041427.
3.) In what form would the msoss… which is unrelated to gravity, and E=mc2.msbase.universe, which is deeply related to gravity or electromagnetic force, be involved? 260803_1432.
What kind of image would pic.editer create to depict such a form? Haha. 2608031434.
】
1-3.
In a paper published in the Journal of Cosmology and Astrophysics (JCAP), the research team explored this possibility and reached a counterintuitive conclusion.
_While additional gravitational forces may pull dark matter particles closer together, the overall growth rate of the cosmic structure does not accelerate.
_In fact, under most conditions investigated, that growth appears to be inhibited.
_This idea is gaining attention because, despite increasingly precise measurements, a perfectly consistent picture of the universe does not emerge. Observations of cosmic expansion and measurements of how galaxies and larger structures have developed over time show small but persistent discrepancies.
2.
_Some studies on the distant universe suggest that cosmic expansion may have proceeded slightly more slowly in the past than predicted by standard cosmological models. (*h. Meanwhile, observations of the cosmic microwave background radiation, the residual radiation of the early universe, suggest that matter may be more densely packed over a larger scale than expected.)
Although these differences of opinion are not significant, they have prompted physicists to verify whether dark matter or other properties of the universe are missing from the Standard Model.
2-1. A Hidden Force Could Fill the Gaps
One possibility is a “dark force” acting only between dark matter particles. Since these interactions can influence both the expansion of the universe and the formation of galaxies and other structures, they could help explain the observational discrepancies. _(*g. “What we actually know about dark matter so far is obtained solely through gravitational effects,” says Zachary Wiener, a researcher at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics and the lead author of this study.
_”This leaves open the possibility that dark matter engages in additional interactions not revealed in ordinary matter.”)
ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ
^^^^^^b1.【(*g) The possibility that dark matter msoss, which was presumed to exist through gravitational effects, exists through any interaction—whether dark or ordinary matter—is shown as an msoss structure (soma_structure) composed(*) of the interrelationships of oser constants. Hmm. 260803_1314.
>>>>It seems the role of gravitational waves, rather than the strength of gravity, causes interactions between dark matter… Heh. 1401.
>>>>>> I assumed CMS as a. in example1.sidems4. Then, that implies the state of matter distribution in the (*h.) large structure of the early universe. Uh-huh.1412.
The ABCD of the universe’s large structure
ABCD
DCBA
BADC
CDAB
The location of our small universe? a=CMB
a000
00a0
000a
0a00
】
2-2.
_Wiener and his colleagues studied a theoretical model in which dark matter experiences long-range attraction in addition to gravity.
_They combined theoretical calculations and cosmological observations to track two interrelated effects. In other words, they revealed how the added interaction changes the history of the universe’s expansion and how it affects the growth of large-scale structures. Just because there is more attraction does not mean the structure becomes stronger.
2-3.
_The simplest prediction is that another attractive force will act, causing dark matter to gather more quickly.
_(*f. This rapid gathering process could create a denser cosmic structure and explain observations that matter is more densely packed than standard predictions.)
^^^^^^^【(*f) If the reason for the existence of dark matter msoss is to create a denser cosmic structure, then msoss is a more suitable domain(*) for the role of negative expansion to ensure cosmic density while simultaneously expanding the universe. On the other hand, we should view msbase.power as practically driving the expansion of the universe…2608031307.
】
_”The first thought that comes to mind is likely that if we give dark matter additional gravitational force, the structure will grow faster,” says Wiener. “But at the same time, another effect is at play.”
_ The hidden force increases the gravitational pull between dark matter particles. However, this is only part of the calculation, and a second effect changes the final result.
3. Dark matter brightens over time.
_(*c. Within the models reviewed by researchers, the same interactions that strengthen particle cohesion appear to be changing dark matter as the universe expands. In other words, particles lose mass over time.)
_(*c1. As mass decreases, the influence of gravity weakens. Although particles gather more efficiently thanks to additional forces, the reduced gravitational influence offsets the greater cohesion effect.)
ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ
^^^^^^a2.【(*c.) A few weeks ago, I estimated that neutrinos are created from the mass decrease of msoss, or wimps are created from the mass increase. Haha. 1300.
】
3-1.
_Consequently, these interactions do not strengthen traces of dark matter in the cosmic microwave background. In most scenarios studied, rather, they slow down the overall development rate of the cosmic structure. This discovery places constraints on broader theories.
_This result could also affect theories beyond the simplest dark energy models. Several explanations proposed for recent measurements from the Dark Energy Spectrometer (DESI) involve interactions between dark matter particles.
3-2.
According to the researchers, the competition between stronger gravitational forces and decreasing effective mass is likely to operate similarly in these more sophisticated models as well.
Therefore, any attempt to explain cosmic observations using dark matter interactions must consider both effects, rather than assuming that increased gravitational forces automatically create more structures.
3-3.
New investigations and observatories are providing increasingly precise measurements. Comparing these observations with the predictions of the aforementioned models will help narrow down the range of hidden interactions that dark matter can and cannot possess.
“The universe is often much more subtle than our intuition,” says Wiener. “That is precisely why we must continue to verify these ideas.”