Alternative Interpretations of Observed Galactic Behaviors

Dear Colleagues,

The goal of this Special Issue is to stimulate discussion on a key issue in galactic astronomy. Namely, non-baryonic dark matter (NBDM) is now central to both modern cosmologic models and many models of galactic evolution. Yet, neither experimental confirmation nor direct observational evidence for NBDM exist, despite decades of concerted and expensive efforts (Acdermann et al., 2014; Giagu, 2019). Moreover, NBDM was invoked ~50 years ago to explain why galactic rotational velocities differ from the radial pattern of our solar system (Rubin and Foord, 1970) and became entrenched well before several authors proved both analytically and numerically that galactic rotation curves are wholly consistent with normal matter and ordinary gravitational forces, e.g., Feng and Gallo, 2014; Criss and Hofmeister, 2020; and Sipols and Pavlovich, 2020.

Consensus now describes the vast majority of publications in modern sciences (Park et al., 2023), and NBDM provides another example.  New ideas and alternative explanations of observations are now hidden in the immense and growing scientific literature. Conformity inherent in consensus impedes progress. Historic examples include widespread beliefs in geocentrism, caloric, indivisible atoms, and perpetual motion.  

Hence, we solicit exposés of new interpretations of galactic behaviors that are connected directly or indirectly with the postulated existence of NBDM. We also solicit alternative explanations of the redshift because popular cosmological models, which rest on the redshift being a Doppler effect, also require dark matter (Gupta, 2024), which is considered a reason for its existence.

We hope that this volume will feature papers that provide quantitative, parsimonious analyses of available data and observations on a specific galactic phenomenon. Transformative ideas should include testable hypotheses, avoid special pleading, invoke a minimum of free parameters, and explain a body of data.

Of particular interest are papers that address a long-standing question. Hallmarks of unresolved questions are protracted debates between a few entrenched “camps” and increasingly convoluted justifications of existing models, such as alternatively attributing dark matter to neutrinos, whimps, or imaginary axions (cf. Trimble (1987) to the subsequent literature). As exemplified by the poor advice tendered to Planck circa 1890 regarding the notion that everything in physics is already known, consensus can perpetuate inadequate concepts and discourage discovery. Thus, summaries of available hypotheses and historic perspectives are also welcome.

References

Prof. Dr. Anne M. Hofmeister
Prof. Robert E. Criss
Guest Editors

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• observations
• theory
• hypothesis
• scientific method
• debate
• consensus