The dark side of the universe was a central theme at this year's meeting of the COST project 'Cosmic WISPers.' Launched in October 2022 with support from the European Union, this project is expected to last for four years. The annual meeting took place at Istinye University (ISU) from September 3 to 6 and featured experts from various fields as speakers. The event focused on theoretical and experimental studies aimed at understanding the universe's dark side.
The four-day 'Cosmic WISPers' conference began with opening remarks from Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Peyami Çelikcan and event managers Prof. Dr. Alessandro Mirizzi and Prof. Dr. Serkant Ali Çetin. The first day included discussions on the 'axion particle'—a candidate for dark matter—and cosmology.
On the First Day, the ‘Axiom Particle’ and Cosmology Were Discussed
On the first day, participants engaged in discussions about dark matter, which is believed to exist in the universe despite being undetected. The second day featured presentations on theories related to dark matter research, model construction, and astrophysics. The third and fourth days were dedicated to exploring the future of dark matter research. Notably, on the third day, a public conference titled "Cosmic Whispers We Can't Hear: The Dark Side of the Universe," organized with the support of ISU's Science and Technology Communication Coordinatorship, aimed to communicate advanced research in an accessible manner to a wider audience. This COST action marked the first time discussions on the dark side of the universe were held in Türkiye, with statements made by project coordinator Prof. Alessandro Mirizzi and Head of the Department of Basic Sciences, Prof. Dr. Serkant Ali Çetin.
We Don't Know the Nature of Dark Matter Yet
Prof. Dr. Serkant Ali Çetin, Head of the Department of Basic Sciences at ISU, stated in his speech:
"While the Standard Model provides a solid framework for understanding the building blocks and interactions in the observable universe, it has limitations. Our observational findings suggest that there is much more matter and energy in the universe than we currently comprehend. We have indirect experimental evidence supporting the existence of dark matter, but it’s true nature remains unknown. Conversely, we can assert that dark energy is responsible for the accelerated expansion of the universe."
For Large Distances, We Can Say That the Universe is Expanding Faster Than Light
Çetin explained that, while it can be said that the universe is expanding faster than light at large distances, the observable expansion of space is occurring at a much slower rate. He noted, "Cosmic distances increase by only 0.007 percent over the course of one million years. This ratio has changed slightly throughout the universe's lifetime. So, is the universe expanding faster than light? It depends on the scale you're considering. For truly large distances, we can indeed say that the universe is expanding faster than light. However, it's important to remember that the expansion of space is unrelated to the motion of objects and is not constrained by the speed of light." He added:
We Are Hosting a Meeting to Explore the Dark Side of the Universe
Speaking about the research conducted at ISU, Çetin remarked:
"We are hosting a meeting that aims to shape the future of research in this field, focusing on theoretical and experimental studies designed to understand the dark side of the universe. Our focus is on very weakly interacting 'skinny' particles (WISPs) that arise from various extensions of the Standard Model of Particle Physics. This program aims to provide a comprehensive study of these WISPs, particularly axions, axion-like particles, and dark photons, covering their theoretical foundations, indirect observational results in astrophysics, and direct detection in colliders and other laboratory experiments."
I Am Happy to See Young Students at the Event
In his speech, Prof. Dr. Alessandro Mirizzi, the project coordinator, expressed his delight at participating in the meeting, stating, "I am very happy to see so many young students among us. We spent a week together at a beautiful venue, where many scientists gathered to share their work and discuss a wide range of topics."
During the public conference titled "Cosmic Whispers We Can't Hear: The Dark Side of the Universe," organized in collaboration with the ISU Science and Technology Communication Coordinatorship and the Department of Basic Sciences, young researchers in Türkiye interested in this field had the opportunity to explore new projects and collaborations. "The aim is to encourage interaction to advance WISP studies," Çetin emphasized.
On the final day of the event, as the focus shifted to the future of dark matter research, Prof. Dr. Serkant Ali Çetin, Head of the Department of Basic Sciences at ISU, delivered the closing remarks:
"As Istinye University, we have hosted a meeting where theoretical and experimental studies aimed at understanding the dark side of the universe were discussed. The main objective of the COSMIC WISPers program is to foster the formation and interaction of a community with diverse and complementary expertise to conduct WISP studies systematically and consistently in the intersecting and interdisciplinary fields of particle physics, astrophysics, and cosmology. By hosting this event, we are thrilled to create an opportunity for young researchers in Türkiye to participate and contribute to studies in this important area."