I think the article gets better. The opening paragraphs all speak as though dark energy is an explanation when it’s literally the opposite of an explanation - it’s a gap between observations and models.
I think your framing can be improved along the same lines. It’s not that we have mountains of evidence against dark energy, it’s that we have mountains of evidence against the standard model. There’s only 3 things to do with dark energy - find new energy, show our observations are wrong, or show our model is wrong. Showing our model is wrong is not evidence against dark energy, it’s evidence against the model!
If we can build a more complex and nuanced model, like this Timescape model, then in theory we could have a model that matches our observations and eliminates the delta. I have to imagine it will take decades to work through the implications of such a model, and as history has shown us, the model will likely result in other gaps between observations and the model. “All models are wrong, some are useful” comes to mind here.
Basically, it looks like MOND is more closely aligned with what we observe and it wouldn’t require dark energy to work. And the timescape model might provide further support for it. I agree that it’s highly likely that the next models will also have gaps as well. The truth of the matter is that we haven’t really been probing the universe for all that long. We’ve only been able to do serious physics experiments where we probe the nature of reality for a a century at most. I’m sure there’s plenty left to be discovered.
Again, Dark Energy isn’t a thing. By MOND more closely aligning with what we observe, there is no gap between the amount of energy required to explain observations and the amount of energy observed.
I agree that it’s highly likely that the next models will also have gaps as well
The question, vis-a-vis dark energy, is whether those gaps will be a deficit of observed energy relative to the energy required to meet observations given the model. Other gaps could be fatal, even if they balance the energy dimension, and that could be incredibly informative for finding subsequent models.
And yes, it’s been 101 years since Edwin Hubble discovered that other galaxies even exist. In 1923, the accepted model was that the Milky Way was the entire universe.
I’m not talking just about dark energy, MOND is closer to measured observations of how gravity behaves at large scales.
Other gaps could be fatal, even if they balance the energy dimension, and that could be incredibly informative for finding subsequent models.
Sure, but key part is that the whole notion of dark energy only exists because the model we came up with is at odds with what we see happening. And since we didn’t have other models that were at least as good we needed to paper over that somehow.
It’s also worth noting that cosmology ultimately relates to how physics work at the smallest scales. It’s all a continuum, and everything builds on itself. Explaining what we see at the largest scales has to directly trace back to the smallest ones.
MOND is not widely accepted for a couple of reasons, but right here in Wikipedia we have this:
The most serious problem facing [MOND] is that galaxy clusters show a residual mass discrepancy even when analyzed using MOND.[6] This detracts from the adequacy of MOND as a solution to the missing mass problem, although the amount of extra mass required is a fifth that of a Newtonian analysis…
Sure, but key part is that the whole notion of dark energy only exists because the model we came up with is at odds with what we see happening
That’s accurate but not precise. The model we came up with matched the observations we had at the time, and then new observations came that challenged the model. Dark matter and dark energy are the gaps that would have to be filled with exotic matter and energy in order for the model to remain consistent with observations. Changing the model to eliminate these gaps is the work of many, but developing such a model is the work of multiple generations.
It’s also worth noting that cosmology ultimately relates to how physics work at the smallest scales. It’s all a continuum, and everything builds on itself. Explaining what we see at the largest scales has to directly trace back to the smallest ones.
Which is why developing new models takes generations.
I’m aware MOND also has problems, and it will take time to figure out how to reconcile them. It’s even possible that an entirely different model might be proposed. It’s hard to make predictions on how quickly these things will develop however because the rate of progress is not linear. We accumulate data at increasingly higher rate and fidelity, the tools we use to analyze the data that are constantly improving, and communication is becoming easier. All of these factors accelerate the rate of research. It’s also worth noting that stuff like machine learning can play a big role here as well. These systems are very good at finding patterns in data that would be impossible for humans to see. So, it may take generations to develop a new model or it make take decades. Personally, this isn’t something I’d bet money on.
Lambda CDM is another model that has already been proposed and has much broader support than MOND.
All of these factors accelerate the rate of research
Yes, but not of generating new models, because models have to match ALL observations. The more observations we have, the longer it takes to reconcile all the implications of new models or changes to existing models.
Having more processing power and tools that are able to identify patterns within them absolutely does help with producing new models. In fact, tools like theorem solvers can be used to generate models and test them on the data. Much of the process of developing models could be automated going forward. In fact, some of that is already starting to happen today.
I think the article gets better. The opening paragraphs all speak as though dark energy is an explanation when it’s literally the opposite of an explanation - it’s a gap between observations and models.
I think your framing can be improved along the same lines. It’s not that we have mountains of evidence against dark energy, it’s that we have mountains of evidence against the standard model. There’s only 3 things to do with dark energy - find new energy, show our observations are wrong, or show our model is wrong. Showing our model is wrong is not evidence against dark energy, it’s evidence against the model!
If we can build a more complex and nuanced model, like this Timescape model, then in theory we could have a model that matches our observations and eliminates the delta. I have to imagine it will take decades to work through the implications of such a model, and as history has shown us, the model will likely result in other gaps between observations and the model. “All models are wrong, some are useful” comes to mind here.
Basically, it looks like MOND is more closely aligned with what we observe and it wouldn’t require dark energy to work. And the timescape model might provide further support for it. I agree that it’s highly likely that the next models will also have gaps as well. The truth of the matter is that we haven’t really been probing the universe for all that long. We’ve only been able to do serious physics experiments where we probe the nature of reality for a a century at most. I’m sure there’s plenty left to be discovered.
Again, Dark Energy isn’t a thing. By MOND more closely aligning with what we observe, there is no gap between the amount of energy required to explain observations and the amount of energy observed.
The question, vis-a-vis dark energy, is whether those gaps will be a deficit of observed energy relative to the energy required to meet observations given the model. Other gaps could be fatal, even if they balance the energy dimension, and that could be incredibly informative for finding subsequent models.
And yes, it’s been 101 years since Edwin Hubble discovered that other galaxies even exist. In 1923, the accepted model was that the Milky Way was the entire universe.
I’m not talking just about dark energy, MOND is closer to measured observations of how gravity behaves at large scales.
Sure, but key part is that the whole notion of dark energy only exists because the model we came up with is at odds with what we see happening. And since we didn’t have other models that were at least as good we needed to paper over that somehow.
It’s also worth noting that cosmology ultimately relates to how physics work at the smallest scales. It’s all a continuum, and everything builds on itself. Explaining what we see at the largest scales has to directly trace back to the smallest ones.
MOND is not widely accepted for a couple of reasons, but right here in Wikipedia we have this:
That’s accurate but not precise. The model we came up with matched the observations we had at the time, and then new observations came that challenged the model. Dark matter and dark energy are the gaps that would have to be filled with exotic matter and energy in order for the model to remain consistent with observations. Changing the model to eliminate these gaps is the work of many, but developing such a model is the work of multiple generations.
Which is why developing new models takes generations.
I’m aware MOND also has problems, and it will take time to figure out how to reconcile them. It’s even possible that an entirely different model might be proposed. It’s hard to make predictions on how quickly these things will develop however because the rate of progress is not linear. We accumulate data at increasingly higher rate and fidelity, the tools we use to analyze the data that are constantly improving, and communication is becoming easier. All of these factors accelerate the rate of research. It’s also worth noting that stuff like machine learning can play a big role here as well. These systems are very good at finding patterns in data that would be impossible for humans to see. So, it may take generations to develop a new model or it make take decades. Personally, this isn’t something I’d bet money on.
Lambda CDM is another model that has already been proposed and has much broader support than MOND.
Yes, but not of generating new models, because models have to match ALL observations. The more observations we have, the longer it takes to reconcile all the implications of new models or changes to existing models.
Having more processing power and tools that are able to identify patterns within them absolutely does help with producing new models. In fact, tools like theorem solvers can be used to generate models and test them on the data. Much of the process of developing models could be automated going forward. In fact, some of that is already starting to happen today.
That’ll certainly be interesting to see if it can make headway against the exponential growth of observations or if it’s merely keeping pace.