Physicists face uncertainty over cosmic origins and dark matter

A major international survey of physicists conducted by the University of Waterloo and the Perimeter Institute reveals significant lack of consensus regarding fundamental cosmological questions. The research indicates that experts remain divided on the nature of the universe's origin, dark matter, cosmic inflation, and quantum gravity.

Key findings show that even the standard Lambda-CDM cosmological model lacks universal acceptance as a final description of the universe. Regarding the Big Bang, approximately 68 percent of respondents believe it may not have marked the absolute beginning of time. Furthermore, cosmic inflation received support from only about 51 percent of participants.

In a separate development, physicists from Japan have utilized Earth's geomagnetic data and atmosphere as a massive detector to search for dark matter candidates, specifically axions and dark photons. By treating the cavity between Earth and the ionosphere as a natural resonator, researchers identified dozens of potential signals that align with theoretical predictions for these particles. While these signals require further verification, they provide new avenues for investigating the invisible matter that influences gravitational effects in the universe.