Dark matter remains one of the biggest mysteries in the universe, with conventional theories failing to explain its existence. However, physicist Stefano Profumo of the University of California, Santa Cruz, has proposed two new and unconventional theories to explain dark matter’s origins.
In his first paper, published in May 2025, Profumo suggests that dark matter could have originated from a “mirror” universe, where particles are made of dark versions of our own protons and neutrons. This idea is based on quantum chromodynamics, which describes the strong force that binds quarks and gluons.
The second paper proposes that dark matter particles could have formed at the cosmic horizon – the edge of the observable universe – during the rapid expansion following the Big Bang. According to Profumo, these particles would be generated by quantum fluctuations in this region.
Both theories are highly speculative but offer self-contained scenarios that don’t rely on conventional particle dark matter models. While they require further experimentation to confirm, they open up new possibilities for understanding and exploring dark matter.
Dark matter’s existence is supported by the fact that it neither emits nor blocks radiation, making direct detection challenging. With no clear explanation yet, researchers continue to explore alternative theories, such as those proposed by Profumo.
Profumo’s studies have been published in Physical Review D.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/dark-mirror-of-our-own-universe-could-explain-quirks-in-gravity