Dark matter vs. modified gravity?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the ongoing debate between dark matter and modified gravity as explanations for cosmic phenomena. Observations from the Cosmic Microwave Background and the Bullet Cluster provide strong support for dark matter, suggesting it is a more straightforward explanation than modified gravity. While some researchers continue to advocate for modified gravity theories, they have not gained significant traction in mainstream science. The consensus remains largely in favor of dark matter, despite the presence of proponents for both theories. Ultimately, dark matter is viewed as a more comprehensive solution to the challenges posed by large-scale cosmic observations.
alemsalem
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what's the status of that?
also why not just look for two systems that have the same visible distribution but with a different dark matter content?
 
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alemsalem said:
what's the status of that?
also why not just look for two systems that have the same visible distribution but with a different dark matter content?
As far as I'm concerned, it was basically solved with the detailed observation of the Cosmic Microwave Background by the WMAP satellite, which is easily explained by dark matter, but not so easy to explain by modified gravity.

Then, more recently, this observation came along that provides a much more visual demonstration, placing yet another nail in the coffin of modified gravity:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullet_Cluster

I really like this blog post describing it:
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/08/21/dark-matter-exists/
 
I just replied to another thread about this!

There are certainly still proponents of modified gravity. Milgrom, Benkenstein and Moffat are still generating papers and there are quite a number of new adherents to the ideas (McGaugh, Scarpa, etc). That doesn't mean that "consensus" is pointing towards dark matter - in fact, I think it's ALWAYS pointed toward dark matter. None of these modifications have taken a strong hold in main stream science. On the other hand, I also don't think they are yet shunned as bad science or even worse, pseudoscience.

On top of all of that, there are some folks that proclaim BOTH modified gravity and dark matter. I always thought that was the beauty of modified gravity - no need for this very mysterious, never been directly detected material. But needing to break down Newtonian physics at large scale (and some would say it would also break GR) AND magic matter? Yeah, let's just go with the one that explains it all!
 
what is the current status of the field for quantum cosmology, are there any observations that support any theory of quantum cosmology? is it just cosmology during the Planck era or does it extend past the Planck era. what are the leading candidates into research into quantum cosmology and which physics departments research it? how much respect does loop quantum cosmology has compared to string cosmology with actual cosmologists?

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