Physicists have proposed a groundbreaking model suggesting the universe could be dominated by tachyons, hypothetical particles that move faster than light. This bold theory, detailed in a recent preprint on arXiv, posits tachyons as the main component of dark matter, potentially explaining the universe’s accelerating expansion—a phenomenon currently attributed to dark energy. Despite tachyons’ contentious nature, violating fundamental principles like causality, the model aligns surprisingly well with observations of Type Ia supernovae, which are crucial for understanding the universe’s expansion rate.
This tachyon model not only challenges conventional physics but also offers a unified explanation for dark matter and dark energy, two of the most profound mysteries in cosmology. The next steps involve rigorous testing against additional cosmic observations, such as the cosmic microwave background and galaxy arrangements. While the tachyon hypothesis remains highly speculative, its consistency with existing data underscores the importance of exploring unconventional ideas in the quest to unravel the universe’s secrets.
Read more at livescience.com…