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A theory holds that dark matter could be involved in a mirror universe and that runs backwards before the Big Bang. A theory holds that dark matter could be involved in a mirror universe and that runs backwards before the Big Bang. © Getty Images Here’s what you’ll learn when you read this story: A backward, mirror universe could explain the existence of dark matter. If an anti-universe exists, it would run backward in time, before the Big Bang. Dark matter, then, could be right-handed neutrinos implied by the mirror universe. Scientists believe there could be an “anti-universe” somewhere out there that looks like the mirror image of our own universe, reciprocating almost everything we do. If this theory holds true, it could explain the presence of dark matter. Byzantine Crucifix With Angel, Holy Eucharist, The Holy Spirit - Handcrafted In Italy 1-7/8" Long Ad Byzantine Crucifix With Angel, Holy Eucharist, The Holy Spirit - Handcrafted In Italy 1-7/8" Long Etsy call to action icon First, some background: the “Big Bang” is a collective term that includes a variety of theories studied by cosmologists, the scientists who try to rewind the clock as close to the very beginning of the universe as possible. Most agree that matter exploded forth, but there are different opinions on, for example, whether the temperature was extremely hot or absolute-zero cold at that initial moment. There are also disagreements about what may have happened prior to the bang itself. Could it be that what we call the Big Bang was the inflection point of an even bigger bounce in progress? Think of the point when you bounce on the trampoline and your feet almost touch the ground beneath—then imagine only seeing the subsequent bounce upward; it’s meaningless without the first, downward half of the bounce! Dark matter is, if such a thing exists, maybe even more perplexing to scientists than the Big Bang. That’s because dark matter is a key piece that helps to complete an unclear puzzle— the question of what forms the universe around us today, not billions of years ago. Dark matter forms the bulk of the matter in the universe, but we’ve never been able to see it anywhere. Related video: Black Holes & Dark Matter (Isaac Arthur) Probably two of the most common and important questions in Isaac Arthur Black Holes & Dark Matter How is dark matter hidden in plain sight, and what are its qualities? These are huge mysteries upon which a ton of other ideas must rest. For the time being, one way to describe dark matter is very literal: by “dark,” we mean that it is not luminous, which is the technical term for matter that doesn’t reflect or emit any photons in a way we can identify. But we can measure the physical (not visual) effects of dark matter in things like gravitational waves. Now we arrive back at the theory. Could it be that an “anti-universe” might run parallel to our own universe, but backward in time? If so, it would essentially spread out “backward” in time, prior to the Big Bang, in the same way our universe progressed “forward” in time. In a paper published in 2018 in the journal Annals of Physics, researchers from the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Ontario, Canada, suggest that the Big Bang might have been smaller and more symmetrical than we think. Ask a Pro: "How Should I Start to Plan for RMD Taxes Once I Turn 65?" Ad Ask a Pro: "How Should I Start to Plan for RMD Taxes Once I Turn 65?" SmartAsset call to action icon “Among other things, we shall describe in detail a remarkable consequence of this hypothesis, namely a highly economical new explanation for the cosmological dark matter,” the researchers write. One cool thing about this model of the Big Bang is that it removes the need for what scientists call “inflation,” a period of time in which the universe massively expanded in order to account for its size soon after birth. Instead, the matter could have naturally expanded over time in a less forceful way, which could simplify our explanation for what happened. And in order for these two before-and-after universes to be truly symmetrical, we would need to add a particle to our existing understanding of the universe around us. Today, we know about neutrinos, extra-tiny mysterious particles involved in gravity and weak interaction only. If our universe is mirrored by a similar universe running backward in time from the Big Bang, then what we call dark matter could actually be a version of a neutrino that is “right-handed,” a term that refers to the direction of motion in the neutrino. It would be the natural opposite of the left-handed neutrinos in the other universe. 50% Off Unlimited Plan Ad 50% Off Unlimited Plan Mint Mobile call to action icon If this sounds like wild and heady stuff, you’re absolutely right. But iteration using this kind of new theory is a critical part of cosmology, because scientists must have existing, published theories in order to study them and decide what their next theoretical step is. It’s so much easier to do that by responding publicly using your own observations and measurements, and that leaves a beautiful trail of ideas over time as we refine our understanding and develop more sophisticated ways to observe the universe.

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Yes, some away from home spots must be gaining attentionYes, a fascinating "Third-Place Revival" is actively happening, but the new spaces gaining massive attention look completely different than the dark bars or quiet cafes of the 1991–2011 era.Instead of passive spaces where you just sit and consume a product, the away-from-home spots booming right now are built entirely around shared activities and low-pressure physical participation. People are looking for connection, but they want a reason to be in the room together.Several specific away-from-home spots are commanding a massive wave of cultural attention:1. Activity-First Social ClubsThe Run Club Boom: Organized run clubs and walking groups have completely transformed into the "new bar scene". Platforms like Strava reported that new club creations nearly quadrupled recently, turning exercise into a primary venue for low-stakes mingling and post-workout socializing.Board Game Cafes: Places like Sip & Play in Brooklyn or Game Point in Nashville are surging. Having a physical board game on the table lowers the social anxiety of talking to strangers; the activity provides an immediate, built-in conversation piece.2. Wellness Spaces as Nightlife AlternativesThe Cold Plunge Culture: Wellness centers and bathhouses like Othership are exploding as alcohol-free alternatives to the weekend bar. Instead of drinking in a dark lounge, groups of people are gathering late into the night for structured sauna, breathwork, and ice bath circuits.Experiential Grocery Socials: Grocery stores built to encourage lingering are trending heavily as neighborhood hangouts. Local, independent, and high-end grocers are embedding tasting bars, private chef pop-ups, and cooking classes right into the shopping aisles, turning the weekly errand into a social event.3. The "Silent" and Independent Bookstore ResurgenceThe Barnes & Noble Rebound: Once left for dead by the internet, Barnes & Noble is opening dozens of new stores because people are craving the tactile act of physical browsing and discovery alongside other humans.Silent Book Clubs: Local bookshops are seeing packed houses for "Silent Book Clubs". People show up to a cafe or bar, read their own physical books in companionable silence for an hour, and then grab a drink and chat afterward. It provides the perfect balance of a digital detox with built-in community.