--- title: "An Oxford Scientist May Have Solved the Mystery of Dark Matter" description: "A researcher at the University of Oxford says a new theory could explain the mystery of dark matter and dark energy — and it's a mind-bender." date: "2018-12-05" modified: "2018-12-05" authors: - name: "Jon Christian" job_title: "Executive Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/jonc" url: "https://futurism.com/oxford-scientist-may-have-solved-mystery-dark-matter" categories: - "Astrophysics" - "Dark Matter" - "Science & Energy" - "Space" tags: - "dark energy" - "dark fluid" - "dark matter" - "Oxford University" --- # An Oxford Scientist May Have Solved the Mystery of Dark Matter ![A researcher at the University of Oxford says a new theory could explain the mystery of dark matter and dark energy — and it's a mind-bender.]() *\Image: Tag Hartman-Simkins\* ## Dark Matter One of the most galling mysteries in physics is that of dark matter and dark energy, the names given to the unknown material and energy that observations suggest permeate the universe, but that we can't see. Scientists believe that together, these dark materials could account for up to 95 percent of the total mass in the universe. Now, a researcher at the University of Oxford [says a new theory]() could explain all that "dark phenomena" — and it's a mind-bender. ## Dark Fluid The research, [published in the journal]() *Astronomy and Astrophysics*, suggests that dark matter and energy can both be explained if they're treated as a "negative mass fluid." Basically, this invisible fluid behaves the opposite way of all conventional materials: if you push it, it would accelerate toward you instead of away. Jamie Farnes, the Oxford astrophysicist behind the new theory, created a computer model to explore how this dark fluid would affect the universe. He found that it could explain why galaxies hold together as they spin instead of flying apart — a tantalizing hint that his new model might solve existing astrophysical conundrums. ## Dark Materials In [an essay]() for *The Conversation*, Farnes concedes that the negative mass theory could be incorrect — but also expresses hope that, if it's borne out by future observations, it could provide a new model for explaining the mysteries of the cosmos. "Despite these efforts, a negative mass cosmology could be wrong," he wrote. "The theory seems to provide answers to so many currently open questions that scientists will — quite rightly — be rather suspicious. However, it is often the out-of-the-box ideas that provide answers to longstanding problems. The strong accumulating evidence has now grown to the point that we must consider this unusual possibility." **READ MORE:** [Bizarre ‘dark fluid’ with negative mass could dominate the universe – what my research suggests]() \[*The Conversation*\] ***More on dark matter:*** [A New Trick Lets Us Weigh The Galaxy. It’s The First Step Toward Figuring Out What It’s Made Of]() ## Author I'm responsible for editing, assigning, and scouting at Futurism, as well as occasionally writing for the site. That work involves keeping an eye on a wide range of narratives and issues, but over the past few years I've become increasingly interested in how AI is shaping the future of media, the web, and information itself. My day-to-day often involves collaborating on reporting and commentary projects bylined by my colleagues, but I try to find time to do my own reporting as well; stories I've broken for Futurism have been cited by publications including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the New Yorker, Wired, Ars Technica, New York Magazine, the Columbia Journalism Review, Bloomberg, and more. I grew up in Southern Vermont and attended Vanderbilt University. Prior to Futurism, I contributed to outlets including the Boston Globe, Vice, Wired, Slate, the Atlantic, the Outline, Ars Technica and more, and did stints in farming and food service. I currently live in Brooklyn, New York, and in my free time I enjoy pinball, word games, cycling, running, and music production. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()