Could the universe's most elusive substance be secretly painting the cosmos in hues of red and blue? Dark matter, the invisible scaffolding of our universe, might just be leaving behind subtle 'fingerprints' on light, according to a groundbreaking new study. But here's where it gets controversial: while most scientists agree that dark matter is, well, dark, researchers at the University of York are challenging this notion, suggesting it could interact with light in ways we've never imagined.
Dark matter, which constitutes over 80% of the universe's matter, has long baffled astronomers due to its inability to emit, absorb, or reflect light. Yet, this study proposes that as light travels through regions dense with dark matter, it could acquire a faint tint—either red or blue, depending on the type of dark matter present. The effect is so subtle that current telescopes can't detect it, but this is the part most people miss: future ultra-sensitive observatories might just crack the code.
