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Open research questions in Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena

212 unresolved questions extracted from the limitations and future-work sections of 442 Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena papers in our library. Each links back to the study that raised it.

What the literature leaves open

  • Since our present analysis is restricted to a static, face-on configuration, a key open question is whether the distinct DM and DE signatures persist and remain observationally distinguishable when the accretion disk rotates around a static BH—a scenario that calls for dedicated theoretical and numerical study. To bridge the gap between our idealized modeling and real observations, several critical extensions are warranted: • Inclined accretion disks: Existing EHT images of M87* and Sgr A* arise from inclined, rather than face-on, accretion flows.

    Shadows and photon spheres of static black holes embedded in a Dehnen-(1,4,5/2)-type dark matter halo with a quintessential field · 2026

  • follow-up measurements by future ground-based experiments such as DANCE, - X-ray astronomical observations by Athena to confirm or disprove the signal candidates

    Axion dark matter search from terrestrial magnetic fields at extremely low frequencies · 2026 · DOI

  • The fundamental nature of dark matter remains unknown. The previous constraint on the axion-photon coupling parameter needs to be refined. The search for ultralight axion dark matter requires new methods and techniques.

    Axion dark matter search from terrestrial magnetic fields at extremely low frequencies · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of understanding of the complex motion of particles and fields near black holes in the context of dark matter halos. The need to examine the influence of dark matter halo parameters on the chaotic dynamics of a massive test particle. The gap in the analysis of the geometric indicator of the transition from regular to chaotic behavior in phase space.

    Extreme-mass-ratio inspirals embedded in dark matter halo: Existence of homoclinic orbit and horizon-induced chaos · 2026 · DOI

  • The need to resolve sub-kiloparsec wave-interference structures with high resolution to capture their lensing effects with sufficient accuracy. The challenge of capturing the global three-dimensional density field of dark matter halos. The difficulty of reproducing the observed positions and flux ratios of multiply-lensed images of quasars.

    Gravitational Lensing Predictions from Wave Simulations of Fuzzy Dark Matter · 2026 · DOI

  • Further testing of the residual fluctuations generated by the S-P evolution to determine if they are locally consistent with Gaussian statistics. Investigation of the potential for high-resolution observations of lensed systems to serve as a direct probe of the nature of dark matter. Development of more advanced numerical methods to simulate the dynamical evolution of FDM

    Gravitational Lensing Predictions from Wave Simulations of Fuzzy Dark Matter · 2026 · DOI

  • One technical challenge is the need to render the hydrostatic equilibrium equation solvable by expressing all quantities in terms of the gas density. Another challenge is the requirement for dynamical stability of the gas distribution, which is addressed through postprocessing. The paper also identifies a challenge in the degeneracy between the halo concentration and the stage of gravothermal evolution.

    Cold dark matter and self-interacting dark matter interpretations of cloud-9 · 2026 · DOI

  • Further observations of RELHICs are needed to confirm the findings. Simulations of SIDM halos with different cross sections and concentrations could provide more insights. A larger sample of RELHICs could help to break the degeneracy between the halo concentration and the stage of gravothermal evolution.

    Cold dark matter and self-interacting dark matter interpretations of cloud-9 · 2026 · DOI

  • Fi- nally, formation scenarios and population synthesis for SSOs remain open problems that will require connect- ing microphysical production yields to astrophysical en- vironments and dynamical capture/ejection processes.

    Sub-stellar Strange Quark Matter Objects: Predicting a New Class of Highly-Compact Candidates · 2026

  • The cosmic web governs the growth of dark matter halos through anisotropic matter flows, yet the role of local velocity-field dynamics in halo mass assembly remains poorly understood.

    Influence of the large-scale structure velocity field on halo mass assembly within cosmic filaments · 2026

  • Recent work showed that tidal forces from the baryonic components of the MW boost the efficiency of subhalo mass-loss, although the underlying physical processes remain insufficiently understood.

    Dynamical evolution of dark matter subhaloes in the Milky Way: role of the Galactic disc · 2026 · DOI

  • Abstract The topology of reionization and the environments where galaxies efficiently produce ionizing photons are key open questions.

    SMILES: Potentially Higher Ionizing Photon Production Efficiency in Overdense Regions · 2025 · DOI

  • Our results motivate additional study of subhalo core collapse in dense cluster environments.

    Self-interacting Dark Matter, Core Collapse, and the Galaxy–Galaxy Strong-lensing Discrepancy · 2024 · DOI

  • The paper identifies several challenges, including the need to develop a methodology that can handle high-dimensional event data, and the need to reduce the reliance on many of the corrections and cuts that are traditionally part of the analysis chain. The paper also states that the analysis is based on simulated data, and the results may not be directly applicable to real data.

    Model-independent searches of new physics in DARWIN with deep learning · 2026 · DOI

  • The paper suggests that the methodology can be applied to other rare physics searches with xenon-based TPCs. The paper also suggests that the method can be used to extract maximal information from the high-dimensional event data produced by TPC experiments.

    Model-independent searches of new physics in DARWIN with deep learning · 2026 · DOI

  • The gap is in the detection of rare events, such as dark matter interactions and neutrinoless double-beta decay. The gap is in the development of detectors that can achieve ultra-low energy thresholds and excellent energy resolution.

    Rare event searches using cryogenic detectors via direct detection methods · 2026 · DOI

  • In recent years, advances in cryogenic technologies have led to world-leading sen- sitivities and first-of-their-kind observations, positioning them at the forefront of rare-event physics. The upcoming generation of experiments, with larger target masses, improved energy resolution, and enhanced background control, is expected to significantly extend discovery reach. Together, these efforts will not only deepen our understanding of fundamental neutrino and dark sector properties, but also probe physics well beyond the Standard Model. A concise overview of the current status, key limitations, and future goals is provided in Table 5. With continued in- novation and international collaboration, cryogenic detectors are poised to remain a leading platform in the search for new physics in the coming decades. Table 5: Summary of present status, bottlenecks, and future directions for cryogenic rare-event searches.

    Rare event searches using cryogenic detectors via direct detection methods · 2026 · DOI

  • The study of dark matter is challenging due to its unknown properties. The Lμ-Lτ model is a complex gauge theory that requires careful analysis. The neutrino oscillation behavior in the dark halo is difficult to understand due to the presence of multiple interactions.

    Neutrino oscillation in dark matter with L μ − L τ · 2026 · DOI

  • Further study of the Lμ-Lτ model is needed to constrain its parameter space. Investigation of the neutrino oscillation behavior in the dark halo is necessary to understand the implications of the study. The results of the paper can be used to inform direct and indirect dark matter detection experiments.

    Neutrino oscillation in dark matter with L μ − L τ · 2026 · DOI

  • The need for re-analysis of data from axion search experiments to derive dark photon constraints. The importance of accounting for scanning timing information.

    Dark photon dark matter constraints at the Taiwan Axion Search Experiment with Haloscope · 2026 · DOI

  • The paper presents conversion factor calculations only for discrete frequency scans at 25° latitude with integration times of a few hours, and notes that longer time intervals between scans create conversion factor peaks (e.g., at 4.787 GHz). The effect of varying observation latitude, different integration time distributions, and seasonal variations in dark matter halo velocity dispersion on dark photon sensitivity has not been explored.

    Dark photon dark matter constraints at the Taiwan Axion Search Experiment with Haloscope · 2026 · DOI

  • The paper identifies a gap in the study of dark matter's influence on neutron star properties. Prior work has not investigated the effects of strongly-interacting dark matter on neutron stars.

    Strongly interacting dark matter admixed neutron stars · 2026 · DOI

  • The dependence on the ordinary matter equation of state for mass-radius measurements in dark matter admixed neutron stars is noted but not systematically characterized; controlled variations across different ordinary matter EoS models (beyond the three employed) are needed to quantify this sensitivity.

    Strongly interacting dark matter admixed neutron stars · 2026 · DOI

  • (i) Quantitative CMB fit. Section 10 demonstrates qualitative compatibility. A quantitative fit to the Planck power spectrum requires modifying a Boltzmann code (CAMB/CLASS) with the impedance Poisson equation following the recipe in §10.5 — computational work, not a conceptual gap. (ii) The interpolation function. μ(x) = x/(1+x) is chosen for simplicity. A derivation from the vacuum’s microscopic impedance structure would eliminate this remaining freedom. (iii) First-principles derivation of α. The impedance-memory amplification factor α ≈ 15 is currently extracted from the Bullet Cluster lensing fit, with a heuristic order-of-magnitude estimate from the MOND boost × occupation ratio × trace-reversal enhancement (§5.4) showing that the value is consistent with the microscopic picture. A genuine derivation would tie α to the dense-matter trace-reversal prediction of UTI v2.6 §6 via a calculation of the effective coupling enhancement in long-occupied vacuum regions. (iv) Cluster lensing maps. Detailed comparison with Bullet Cluster, Abell 1689, MACS J0025, and CLASHsurvey lensing maps requires numerical solutions of the covariant field equation (15) for realistic mass distributions, including the dynamical impedance-memory evolution. A coupled grid-based lensing + impedance-memory code is the natural follow-up. (v) Large-scale structure. The matter power spectrum P(k) in the impedance framework, particularly the BAO feature and the transition from linear to nonlinear clustering, requires the same Boltzmann-code work as the CMB fit plus N-body integration of the modified Poisson equation. (vi) Lattice links to UTI v2.6. A lattice computation of fσ = 0|T|σ and the canonical-normalization factor Z (UTI v2.6 open question (i)) would supply the first-principles value of the nuclear coupling g η = fσ/ZT 1/2 that anchors the trace-channel interpretation of the impedance scalar η, and constrains how much of the galactic μ can be inherited from the microscopic theory versus supplied as new phenomenology. The gradient-flow EMT approach of Suzuki (UTI v2.6 §14.4) is the natural calculational route.

    Impedance Contrast Theory: Galaxy Rotation Curves and Gravitational Lensing from Vacuum Impedance Susceptibility · 2026 · DOI

  • The calculation of the 1-loop anomalous dimension of φ1 is deferred to a companion paper. The identification γφ1 = γBH is a theoretically motivated hypothesis, pending rigorous heat kernel verification. The R5+ framework is still a theoretical model and requires further validation against observational datasets.

    UNIFIED SPACETIME DYNAMICS IN THE R5+ FRAMEWORK: GALACTIC ROTATION CURVES, BULLET CLUSTER OFFSETS, AND BLACK HOLE REMNANTS FROM A SYMMETRON-PROCA SECTOR · 2026 · DOI

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212 open questions have been extracted from the limitations and future-work passages of 442 Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena papers in our library. Each one below links back to the study that raised it, so you can read the original claim in context.

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